Striking York nurses berate ‘arrogant’ government and say: ‘We’re determined to stick it out’

Nurses on the picket line at York Hospital today said they were determined to win, as they joined ‘the biggest strike in NHS history’.

The members of the Royal College of Nursing were on a picket line outside the hospital as part of a 48-hour stoppage.

Nurses have walked out at 73 trusts in England, including the York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.

In a separate dispute, 1,500 members of the GMB union at Yorkshire Ambulance Service walked out today.

Nursing union leaders have implored the government to act to prevent further strike action but ministers in England have indicated that they will not budge on one of the main points of contention – pay for 2022/23.

On the Wigginton Road picket line today, Tim Jarvis, an urgent care nurse practitioner from Selby, told YorkMix: “I find it impossible to understand how the government can expect to resolve a dispute without negotiating with one of their core worker groups.

“I find it typical of their arrogance that they’re not not coming to the table.”

He said they were determined to fight on.

“I definitely think we’ll stick it out. Morale in my unit, and with everyone I’ve spoken to, has been very high. We’re determined to make this work for the patients and for us.

“I’m very confident that we’ve got the strength and the support to keep going. We know it’s an important fight. We’re fighting for the NHS.”

Mr Jarvis said he felt that the public were still overwhelmingly on the side of the nurses.

York Hospital bosses have put in place a number of contingency plans, including postponing some non-urgent operations, while the strike continues