The RCN members’ message is clear

UNION chiefs have slammed plans to introduce anti-strike legislation as hospitals prepare for a second round of walk-outs and as A&E waiting times soar to historic highs.

The Royal College of Nursing and GMB, which represent nurses and ambulance workers, have both warned that the new laws would be anti-democratic.

Within weeks a bill is to be introduced that would allow NHS employers to bring injunctions against unions to prevent strike action and seek damages.

Nurses are preparing to walk out of University College London Hospitals on Wednesday and Thursday following a similar action at St Mary’s in Paddington before Christmas. They are warning of unfair conditions with some left “with 15, 20 or even 25 sick patients” to care for on the wards that have become “unsafe”.

Ambulance teams walked out on Wednesday in strike action over pay and conditions in a move that saw army officers ordered into hospitals and A&E departments. Waiting times for ambulances in Westminster are now on average more than 90 minutes, according to official figures.

Hundreds of patients are routinely held in queues of ambulances outside A&Es for more than half an hour each week.

Pat Cullen, RCN general secretary and CEO, said: “Curtailing workers’ freedom to participate in lawful industrial action is always undemocratic and we will look closely at what the government releases next week.”

She criticised the government for failing to ensure safe-staffing levels in NHS hospitals, which are supposed to be set in law, are met all year round. She said: “The evidence is unequivocal, safe staffing saves lives and having the right number of registered nurses on duty has a direct impact on the safety and quality of patient care.

“Today’s highly unsafe situation is what is driving our members to say ‘enough is enough’.”

RCN strikes are due to take place on Wednesday and Thursday at a series of hospitals across the capital.

GMB Union has also criticised the anti-strike legislation warning the government was “seeking to scapegoat the NHS staff and ambulance workers who do so much to care for the people of our country”. It said: “The NHS can only function with the goodwill of its incredible staff and attacking their fundamental right to take action will alienate them even further and do nothing to help patients and the public.”

Business, energy and industrial strategy secretary, Grant Shapps, said: “The first job of any government is to keep the public safe. Because while we absolutely believe in the ability to strike, we are duty-bound to protect the lives and livelihoods of the British people. I am introducing a bill that will give the government the power to ensure that vital public services will have to maintain a basic function, by delivering minimum safety levels ensuring that lives and livelihoods are not lost.”