WIRRAL nurses are back on the picket line for the second time this week as a pay dispute with the Government continued.
The Royal College of Nursing says low pay is pushing nursing staff out of the profession and contributing to record vacancies.
Around 200 nursing staff took to the picket line at Arrowe Park Hospital yesterday - almost double the amount that staged industrial action at the site on January 18.
For the first time, combined strike action saw ambulance staff and nurses take industrial action on the same day.
Among those on the picket line at Arrowe Park yesterday was Katie Kendrick, trade union member and staff nurse at the hospital. She told the Globe: "It's a brilliant turnout. Nurses are getting angrier, to be honest.
"We neerd to turn that anger into actions, which is why we are here; being sat at home isn't get our voices heard.
Read more: Power of music brings people together on picket line at Arrowe Park
"Wales abandoned their strikes. I just hope they don't try that in England, because we're not going to accept it, not in a million years.
"The fight goes on, because the door to Number 10 is firmly shut. Until we can actually get in the front door, we'll be here week in, month out, for as long as it takes.
"It's really sad that strike action is going to be a long-term thing, but there's no quick fix. The NHS is, literally, on its knee and it's going take a long time to rebuild.
"The Government talks about building new hospitals and putting all of this money in, but you can't run a hospital without its engine.
"The nurses are the engine of the NHS. The Government is spending money in the wrong areas".
Read more: Wirral nurses and ambulance staff strike in pay dispute
Lisa Gye, a nurse for 17 years who had left but has returned to the profession told the Globe: "It's all about patients’ safety. Because of the cuts, people aren’t coming into nursing as they can’t afford to.
“A lot of people want to be nurses but can’t, because of the wage. The patients aren’t being looked after safely, because there’s not enough people to look after them.
“We’re on this picket line because we’re here because we give a damn for our patients.
“Nurses have families and you can’t really, support your families on the wage at the moment.”
Showing his support for the nurses’ cause was local musician Dave Voller, a former firefighter, who entertained those gathered on the picket line at Arrowe Park yesterday with a few songs.
He told the Globe: "I feel very strongly about trade union events have been picket lines several times.
"Strike action is never good, always a last resort, but it’s all about sticking together, the power of everyone."
A statement on Wirral University Teaching Hospital Trust's website read: "There will be national industrial action on Tuesday, February 7 for 12 hours. This will involve strike action by RCN members at Wirral University Teaching Hospital.
"Patients and visitors may notice activity on our sites today involving NHS staff who are taking part in national industrial action. There should be minimal disruption to traffic, but please take care when driving on site.
"Trust staff and union representatives have worked together to ensure procedures are in place to ensure patient safety is maintained.
"However please be advised there may be some unavoidable delays and some services will not open on strike days.
"If a procedure or outpatient appointment has been cancelled, patients will have been contacted directly about this in advance.
"If patients have not heard from us, they should come in for their procedure or appointment as planned.
"Our Emergency Department will be open, but we would ask patients to only attend if they need emergency medical treatment, and to expect unavoidable impacts of the strike action, such as longer waiting times.
"Please only come to hospital in an unplanned emergency or for an appointment that is still taking place.
"If it is not an emergency, patients are asked to consider options such as visiting a pharmacist, contacting their GP, attending a walk-in centre or visiting 111.nhs.uk."
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