NHS faces winter of strikes as nurses and professionals ballot over pay

‘Kick in the teeth’: Pay award is far below inflation rate

A ‘real sprint’ will be needed before winter to protect the NHS from the combined threats of seasonal flu, Covid-19 and the cost-of-living crisis, the Health Secretary has said (Peter Byrne/PA) (PA)

A ballot of around 100,000 NHS members of the Unite union is under way over possible strike action this winter in protest at a below-inflation pay offer.

Voting by Unite members in England and Wales began as the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) announced almost half a million members will also take part in a separate strike ballot next month.

Both unions are recommending their members support industrial action, which could begin in October and throw the health service into crisis over the winter.