Latest news with #nursingstaff
The Independent
3 days ago
- Health
- The Independent
Nurses union expected to reject pay deal amid strike vote
Nursing staff in England are widely expected to overwhelmingly reject a 3.6 per cent pay offer, with the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) having previously branded the proposed increase "grotesque". The RCN, which has been balloting its members on the prospective pay rise accepted by the Government in May, has argued the award would be "entirely swallowed up by inflation". This sentiment is echoed in BBC reports suggesting a firm rejection by nursing staff. The union highlighted that the offer falls short compared to increases received by doctors, teachers, prison officers, and the armed forces. While GMB health workers, including ambulance crews, recently rejected a similar government pay deal, any decision on potential strike action by nurses would not be made until later in the year, the public broadcaster added. The union said its members voted by 67 per cent against the 3.6 per cent pay award offered for 2025/26 in England. GMB has written to Health Secretary Wes Streeting calling for an urgent meeting to discuss pay and other issues of importance to its members working across the NHS and ambulance services. Rachel Harrison, GMB national secretary, said: 'We await his reply with interest.' The GMB represents about 50,000 health workers, including 20,000 in the ambulance service. The announcement was made on the first day of a five-day strike by resident doctors, also over pay. Analysis from the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) found nurses' pay is £8,000 lower than if wages had kept pace with inflation since 2010. Their study showed that nurses' pay has been 'severely eroded' over the past years, especially for junior staff. The RCN said addressing 'collapsing' wages for those at the start of their careers must be a priority for the government to boost recruitment and deliver its 10-Year Health Plan. Executive director for RCN England, Patricia Marquis, said nursing staff are 'tired of playing constant financial catch-up, often struggling to pay rent or get on the housing ladder'.
BBC News
02-07-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Liverpool: Marie Curie hospice unit to close permanently
Liverpool's Marie Curie hospice inpatient unit is to shut permanently after it was temporarily closed last year, the charity has hospice's 26-bed unit in Woolton was closed in July 2024 due to a shortage of specialist nursing executive Matthew Reed said it was "an incredibly tough decision" in the face of "significant financial deficits" but they remained committed to providing care in other from the Liverpool Hospice Action Group described the news as "devastating" and called on Marie Curie to allow another provider to step in and run the unit. Mr Reed said both Marie Curie and the Integrated Care Board - which provides some funding - "face significant financial deficits" and, as a charity, they had to ensure their finances were sustainable and "benefit as many people as possible". He said they understood it would "be difficult news for future patients, our staff and volunteers and the local community" and and thanked them for their Curie said its board of trustees "took the difficult decision" after the Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Board, which commissions end-of-life care, confirmed it could not provide sustainable, long-term funding above existing Reed said the hospice would continue to provide end-of-life care through its home service, which they were looking to expand, and other services. 'No surprise' Clare Beloved, of Liverpool Hospice Action Group, said the news was "no surprise" and "our greatest fear now is that they sell this building off" so it could not be revived by another said hospice staff had "held my hand while my wife died" and "were with us at the worst moments".Ms Beloved said the group was also calling for a public inquiry into the closure."For a full year we have watched as Marie Curie gave changing explanations, refused timelines and declined our invitation to collaborate - even when we offered to raise all the necessary funds ourselves," she councillor Alan Gibbons said the news was "incredibly disappointing" and called on Marie Curie to explain exactly where the shortfall was. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
CTV News
25-06-2025
- Health
- CTV News
Labour, birth services will be unavailable at Waterville, N.B., hospital for a week
Upper River Valley Hospital in Waterville, N.B., is pictured in this undated image. (Source: Horizon Health Network) The Upper River Valley Hospital in Waterville, N.B., will not have labour and birth services for the next week. Horizon Health says the services will be unavailable from 8 a.m. Thursday to 8 a.m. next Friday (July 4). Any pregnant people in the region will need to travel to Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital in Fredericton for services. 'The reason for this change is availability of physicians to provide emergency caesarian sections (C-sections),' a news release from Horizon reads. 'Even if a pregnant individual feels they are low-risk and do not require a C-section, they must still travel to the (Chalmers Regional Hospital) for labour and birth, as pregnancy-related issues and emergency situations can quickly arise during childbirth. 'All individuals in the (Upper River Valley Hospital) service area who are 35 weeks pregnant and over have been contacted by nursing staff.' For more New Brunswick news, visit our dedicated provincial page.
CTV News
31-05-2025
- General
- CTV News
Bow Island ER closed over weekend due to lack of clinical coverage
The Bow Island ER is temporarily closed over the weekend due to a lack of clinical coverage. The Bow Island Health Centre emergency department is temporarily closed over the weekend due to a lack of clinical coverage. The ER will resume normal hours on Monday morning. For the time being, nursing staff will remain on site to provide care for remaining patients and long-term care residents. Alberta Health Services said that anyone needing emergency care should call 911 or go to Taber or Medicine Hat For non-urgent health questions call 811.
