Further nursing strikes ‘not sustainable’ for NHS, ministers warned

NHS Providers urges government to come to the table' as RCN union leader says stoppages could continue until Christmas

Ministers are facing pressure to tackle an escalating wave of NHS strikes, after the organisation representing NHS trusts warned that planned stoppages by nurses that could last until Christmas were not sustainable" for the health service.

With nurses due to be balloted on new strikes after voting to reject what the government called a full and final" pay offer, the head of the main nursing union said Steve Barclay, the health secretary, did not seem willing to listen.