One year on from nursing staff taking unprecedented strike action – and with a general election on the horizon – a new poll for the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) reveals unwavering public support for nursing staff taking industrial action in 2024.
To coincide with the anniversary, the RCN is asking its members working for the NHS in England about their experience of strike action and their appetite for fresh action in the new year.
New data from YouGov shows that six in 10 people (60%) continue to support nurses taking to picket lines. Public support for nursing staff taking strike action is steadfast - and was at the same level on 15 December 2022, when nursing staff in England took strike action for the first time in the RCN’s history.
YouGov asked the public what issues they would support nursing staff taking strike action for. As the UK heads towards a general election, the poll reveals that the public back nursing staff striking over pay, staffing levels, and working conditions.
The public are aware of the immense pressure on nursing staff – with 73% of people polled believing there aren’t enough nurses to safely care for patients in the NHS. This is the top issue (72%) that the public support nursing staff taking strike action for. It is common for one nurse to be left caring for 10, 15 or more patients - and it is often unsafe.
Earlier this year, nursing staff received the lowest pay award in the public sector. Yet, polls show greater public support for nursing staff taking industrial action than any other profession - and two-thirds of the public (66%) declare they would support nursing staff taking strike action over their pay.
The RCN remains in dispute with the UK government regarding NHS nursing pay in England. During the RCN’s last ballot, over 100,000 members voted for strike action, but anti-strike laws mean this did meet the legal threshold to stage further strikes.
The UK government is pressing ahead with further anti-strike legislation, which means some nursing staff could be forced to work during an otherwise legal strike or face the sack. The new regulations expected soon would limit the rights of nursing staff to protest poor pay and working conditions and silence their voice over patient safety concerns.
Royal College of Nursing Chief Nurse, Professor Nicola Ranger, said:
“When politicians start canvassing voters and knocking on doors, nursing staff could again be standing on picket lines - fighting for fair pay and safe staffing levels. The voice of nursing is strong, and we will always speak up for our patients. The public knows that and it’s why they continue to back us. We will only get a safe NHS when we have enough nurses.
“But nursing staff continue to feel undervalued by those in power. No party is yet able to confidently say they can avoid further action in 2024.
“Political leaders must show they are ready to respect nursing staff, pay them fairly and addressing the staffing crisis.”
Ends
Notes to editors
A YouGov poll of 2,054 adults in Great Britain between 6-7 December 2023 found:
- 60% of those polled said they would support nursing staff if they were to go on strike
- 73% of those polled support nursing staff going on strike in 2024 because of staffing levels
- 66% of those polled support nursing staff going on strike in 2024 because of pay
- 85% of people believing there aren’t enough nurses to safely care for patients in the NHS
The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all GB adults (aged 18+). A breakdown of the polling results is available on the YouGov archive.
Just days before the RCN’s first strike action in England and Wales on 15 December 2022, polling undertaken between 9 – 11 December 2022 of 1728 adults in Great Britain showed:
- 59% of respondents said they support nurses going on strike.
