Nurses' strike: Sussex nurses strike calling for fair pay and better conditions

For the first time, nurses from across Sussex took part in the strike and gathered outside the entrances of every major hospital in Sussex today (January 18) to raise awareness of their ‘unsustainable’ working circumstances.

Among them were dozens of nurses who had gathered outside the entrance of St Richard’s Hospital in Chichester, fighting the bitter cold weather to protest.

“We’re striking because patients are dying” said Claire Tate who has worked as a nurse for 34 years and was among those striking in Chichester. “We do love our job and we don't expect perks, but we do expect respect”.

Nurses could also be seen outside hospitals in Worthing, Brighton, the Princess Royal in Haywards Heath, Bognor Regis War Memorial Hospital, Hastings and Eastbourne with staff from the East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust, Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, and University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trusts taking part.

The aim of the strikes is to put pressure on the government to increase pay for nursing, negotiations have been ongoing throughout last year. But the Royal College of Nurse called to strike when it was offered a rise of 4.75 per cent, which it said was significantly lower than the 12 per cent rate of inflation, meaning at the current rate nurses would be financially 7.25 per cent worse off end of each year.

With a 47,000 vacancies and an estimated 40,000 nurses leaving their jobs last year the RCN said it is eager to improve the working standards that are deterring many and, it said, risking the lives of patients.

A spokesman for NHS Sussex said emergency care will be open, with walk-in emergency and urgent services open to patients including Emergency Departments, A&E, Urgent Treatment Centres and Minor Injuries Units.

Some planned appointments will be affected as trusts ensure that available staff are focused on those who need care and support most.

For more advice read ‘Nurses' strike in Sussex: your questions answered by the NHS’