Thousands of nurses in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland have walked out in the biggest strike in nursing history after the UK government rejected their pay demand as not affordable.
The industrial action, organised by the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), is affecting around a quarter of hospitals and community teams in England, all trusts in Northern Ireland, and all but one health board in Wales.
Scotland is currently not affected as the local government has reopened pay negotiations for the National Health Service (NHS).
Health minister Maria Caulfield told Sky News on Dec. 15 that 70,000 appointments, procedures, and surgeries will be lost in England because of the nursing strike….