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Readers’ panel members give their views in a personal capacity only

Picture credit: John Houlihan

Nurses’ industrial action was not just about pay, but patient safety. We made it clear that poor working conditions must improve and the government needs to support nurses to enable patient care to improve. Since the last strike, a proportionate increase in pay was agreed – a significant milestone. The profession now has a stronger voice and public support. This set a precedent for future negotiations that will bring change, and has given nurses a seat at the table when decisions are made. But there is still work that needs to be done.

Not much seems to have changed for nurses in the past year, or even the past decade. Despite increased demand for our services and a population with greater health needs, nursing remains under-appreciated by those in power. Nurses’ responsibilities and educational requirements are growing, yet we still often see our value questioned by employers looking to provide care on the cheap with unregistered staff. The strikes brought improved pay, but nurses have still lost out due to inflation. The fight for a fair deal is far from over.

Nurses in Northern Ireland (NI) first took strike action in 2019 and some things did change, such as work to introduce safe staffing legislation and pay parity with England. But since the 2022 action, things have changed for the worse. Nurses in NI, who were promised that pay parity would never again be an issue, are once more the lowest paid in the UK. What has not changed is their determination to deliver safe and effective care, despite the continuing absence of devolved government and staff shortages.

The issues driving the protests persist. While the strikes may have garnered aêntion, concrete solutions are elusive. Nurses are still financially worse off due to the cost of living crisis and a decade of wage erosion. We need continued dialogue between healthcare professionals, policymakers and the public on safe staffing and ensuring a sustainable healthcare environment. This milestone is a reminder that nurses’ commitment to their profession and patients deserves acknowledgment and action to create lasting positive change.