By Anna Whittaker, Local Democracy Reporter
The Chief Executive of Nottingham’s hospitals said Thursday’s nurses’ strike will “undoubtedly” have an impact on the trust’s services to patients.
Nurses across the country are striking on the first of two 12-hour strikes on a historic day of industrial action.
The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) is asking for a 19 per cent pay rise, five per cent above inflation, something the Government says is not affordable.
Nurses stood on the picket line at the Queen’s Medical Centre and Nottingham City Hospital on December 15 as the industrial action took place from 8am to 8pm.
Another day of strikes will take place next Tuesday, December 20.
Anthony May, Chief Executive of Nottingham University Hospitals Trust, spoke to the Local Democracy Reporting Service at around midday on Thursday.
He said there will “undoubtedly” be an impact across the trust, but it was too soon to say what that impact would mean for patients.
Mr May said: “We’ve been planning for the strike for several weeks because it was a prospect even before the outcome of the ballot. All of our plans have come to fruition today.
“We have been working really hard with the RCN to keep our emergency services going.
“There’s undoubtedly going to be an impact across the trust, I don’t know what that is yet but we will mitigate as much as we can.
“We can use what happens today to learn because there is potential industrial action next week.
“What I’ve seen from my messages is that things are calm and our plans are working.
“At the moment we’re absolutely focused on plans for today.
“It’s too soon to evaluate the impact from today on individual patients and services.”
He added that the doors are open and people should continue to use the hospital, particularly if they have an emergency.
Sherwood Forest Hospitals staff did not take part in the strikes.
