Is the NHS gearing up for a new winter of discontent?
It obviously comes during the five-day resident doctors' strike, and there are also signs of unrest developing elsewhere in the NHS. Some difficult times lie ahead...
When are the nurses going on strike?
Not soon. The present RCN vote is 'consultative' or 'indicative', and is aimed at strengthening their bargaining hand – there's no commitment to withdraw labour.
Union sources suggest there will be an overwhelming rejection of the offer, which is already barely sufficient to keep up with inflation – but this may, to some extent, be a bargaining ploy as they enter into negotiations. Even so, the chances are they'd go on strike again after a 'real' strike ballot, as they did so often in 2022 and 2023. It might happen towards the end of the year.
Is it too soon to use the phrase 'winter of discontent'?
Sort of. Nonetheless, it is perfectly possible to conceive of the nurses and doctors being on strike simultaneously towards the end of the year. The GMB union is making similar noises about industrial action. They represent many domestic and auxiliary staff, plus ambulance crews (a service still in some crisis). It might well feel a lot like when Rishi Sunak was running the country – 'chaos and confusion'.
What could stop the strikes?
More money, but that feels unlikely given the state of the public finances, and just how many people work in the NHS – the pay bill was around £82bn in 2023-24 for England and Wales, about a half of the NHS budget. So a 1 per cent uplift is the best part of £1bn.
A more important factor, though its impact is less direct, is public opinion. Support for strike action is certainly subsiding in the case of the doctors. Maybe Wes Streeting, faced with by far the greatest challenge of his political career, will somehow persuade them to help him reform and save the NHS – which would, after all, be in their own long-term interests.
What would be the effect on the NHS?
Severe – though eventually, when the strikes are settled, as they'll have to be one day, the backlogs will eventually return to normal. The much more insidious damage will be to public confidence in the NHS as an institution.
If neither the Conservatives nor Labour can fix the NHS, the question may be asked, who can? For some it might feel as though more radical changes are needed, and that the NHS should be effectively privatised. Such changes would not necessarily be in the best interests of the BMA, RCN, or Unison members. The nurses should thus worry about destroying the thing they profess to love most – the health service itself.
What does the opposition say?
Nigel Farage wants a 'French-style' insurance system – but that means hefty premiums for some, and presents a problem for those people who cannot afford them.
Questions would remain about how to fund the kinds of long-term treatment that the private sector refuses to cover – for dementia, cancer, degenerative diseases. Under such a regime, some doctors and nurses in some disciplines might prosper, but others would be worse off. It would be driven more by market forces.
The Conservative leader, Kemi Badenoch, wants to ban strikes by doctors: 'Doctors hold lives in their hands. No one should lose critical healthcare because of strikes, but that's what's happening now. That's why a Conservative government led by me would ban doctors' strikes, just like we do [in respect of] the army and police.'
However, working to rule, and overtime bans, would not be outlawed, which could render the 'ban' ineffective given how much the NHS depends on people working beyond their contracted hours. The Conservatives might also reinstate 'minimum service' in hospitals and healthcare, now being abolished by Labour via the Employment Rights Bill. In short, some form of industrial action would remain an option.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
24 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Do not eat alert issued as health chiefs scramble to recall three cult chocolate bars due to deadly risk
Three cult Dubai-style chocolate bars have been urgently recalled by UK food safety chiefs over renewed fears they could trigger a fatal allergic reaction. The Nrosis Schokolade Love of Dubai bar, a foil-wrapped sweet sold by independent retailers, was recalled last month over fears it contained undeclared nuts. Now the Fix it Dubai Kunafa Chocolate, 50g, and the Le Damas Dubai Chocolate Kunafa and Pistachio, 200g, bars have been added to the food safety warning, with officials urging businesses to immediately stop sales and undertake product recalls. The Food Safety Agency has issued an updated 'do not eat' alert to both consumers and retailers and have said the supplier, Black Sea Trading Ltd have so far been uncontactable. As a result, food safety action is required by individual retailers selling these products. All batch codes and best-before dates are affected, posing a serious risk to people with a nut allergy—including peanuts, almonds, cashews and walnuts which are not highlighted on the packaging. Officials are working with local authorities and businesses to ensure the products are removed from sale and are advising anyone who has purchased one of the bars to dispose of it at home—especially if they have a nut allergy. Consumers have also been advised to contact their local Trading Standard and report where the affected bar was purchased. The Neosis Schokolade Love of Dubai bar, was recalled last month over safety concerns but now Now the Fix it Dubai Kunafa Chocolate, 50g, and the Le Damas Dubai Chocolate Kunafa and Pistachio, 200g, bars have been added to the list Undeclared nuts can cause anaphylaxis—a rapid, life-threatening allergic reaction that causes the throat to swell, often leading to unconsciousness or even death within minutes. As part of the recall notice, the FSA stated: 'These products contain peanuts and other types of nuts—almonds, cashews and walnuts—which are not mentioned on the labelling, making it a possible health risk to anyone with an allergy to peanuts or other types of nuts.' The updated recall follows mounting concerns over the so-called Dubai chocolate trend, which has seen pistachio-filled, gold-wrapped bars go viral on social media. While some UK supermarkets have launched their own regulated versions, many of the bars being sold by smaller retailers and online are unregulated imports. The are often missing English ingredient lists, allergen warnings, or valid UK contact details, the FSA has warned. Earlier this year, testing by European authorities found that some Dubai-style chocolates contained undeclared sesame, banned artificial dyes, and even carcinogenic contaminants. In one case, German investigators reported 'widespread safety violations' in imported pistachio chocolate bars, including the presence of aflatoxins—toxic compounds linked to liver cancer. In June the FSA urged the public to check labels on Dubai-style chocolate bars and not purchase them if they do not list, in English, the ingredients with allergens emphasised. The weight of the food in grams, and a best before or use by date should be printed clearly. The name and address of the UK or EU business responsible for the product should be listed, and if the food is not from the UK or EU, the name and address of the importer must be included. Experts have warned that the popularity of these sweets is 'outpacing food safety,' with campaigners calling for tighter import controls and better enforcement of allergen labelling laws. The recall comes after a series of high-profile tragedies linked to unlabelled allergens. On 17 July 2016, 15-year-old Natasha Ednan-Laperouse died after eating a Pret a Manger baguette containing undeclared sesame seeds. Her death triggered the introduction of a new food and safety law in 2021, known as Natasha's law, which necessitates full ingredient and allergen labelling on all food made on premises and pre-packed for direct sale. Previously, non pre-packaged fresh food made on the premises did not need to be individually labelled with allergen or ingredient information. The FSA said the recall of the bars is listed under alert code FAFA-03-2025-update-1. Full details are available on its website. Anyone who experiences swelling, rash, difficulty breathing or dizziness after eating the product is urged to seek immediate medical attention.
The Sun
24 minutes ago
- The Sun
Woman died after falling on escalator at WHSmith in UK shopping centre
A WOMAN has died after falling on an escalator at a WHSmith store in a UK shopping centre. The 90-year-old tragically passed away after the accident in WHSmith at Quadrant Shopping Centre in Swansea. An inquest into the death of Margaret Rose Harris heard how the retiree died from external bleeding after suffering " traumatic lacerations" to her right leg. Margaret was left seriously wounded after she fell on Tuesday, January 21, of this year. The retired administrator had been prescribed apixaban and aspirin, which would have contributed to the continuous bleeding. The inquest ruled that there were no faults in respect of the escalator or the surrounding environment. Senior coroner Aled Gruffydd returned a conclusion of accidental death. 1
The Sun
24 minutes ago
- The Sun
Controversial owner trying to get Sky Sports legend BANNED from matches on after he spoke out about running of club
HARTLEPOOL UNITED chairman Raj Singh has called on club legend Jeff Stelling to be BANNED from National League boardrooms. Sky Sports icon Stelling, 70, resigned as Pools' honorary chairman in May amid frustration over the club's takeover situation. 2 2 Singh, 60, placed the club up for sale in April 2023 but has not managed to get a deal over the line. The feud between Stelling and the Hartlepool chief appears to have escalated, with Singh writing to league rivals asking for Stelling not to be granted boardroom access at games. As revealed by talkSPORT, a letter penned by Singh to other National League clubs read: "Dear Club Chair/Secretary, You may be aware from media coverage that Jeff Stelling has resigned as Honorary President of Hartlepool United Football Club. "As Chairman of Hartlepool United Football Club I would kindly and considerately ask that Mr Stelling is therefore not provided with official HUFC dignitary spaces in your board room or equivalent for any Hartlepool United fixture at your home ground. "In the unlikely event that Mr Stelling independently attends any Hartlepool United fixture at your home ground, I'd further request that you consider to seat Mr Stelling separately to any HUFC dignitaries or staff. "Kind regards, Raj Singh Chairman Hartlepool United Football Club." Hartlepool's local MP Jonathan Brash has also written a letter to National League clubs. Brash said that he does not share Singh's views, and asked for Stelling to be "afforded the warm welcome and courtesy he rightly deserves whenever Hartlepool United visit your club". BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK Responding to Brash on X, Stelling wrote: "Jonathan thanks so much for that. "I am pretty sure most clubs will be as gracious with me as they always have been. "If not I have got no problem being with the travelling Poolies!" Hartlepool were relegated from the EFL in 2023. They have since finished 12th and 11th during their two seasons back in the National League. A consortium headed up by local businesswoman Shirley Hammond has tried to purchase the club from Singh. Stelling's resignation came in protest at talks between the two parties having stalled. The Soccer Saturday legend said at the time: "I know this is only an honorary role, but it is the best way I felt I could protest against the treatment of the party trying to take control of the club." Hartlepool are set to kick off their National League season this Saturday at Yeovil. They will then host their home season opener against Braintree the following weekend.
