Monitoring Desk
ISLAMABAD: In England and Ireland, nurses have begun protests and a two-day-long strike will be observed over the pay issue.
On the other hand, the health minister has termed the demand for salary increase as an unrealistic demand. The strike will be demonstrated on the 15th (today) and on the 20th of December from 8 am to 2 pm. The outdoor patients will not be entertained, and staff will attend urgent care and life-preserving services.
Nurses’ demand
A 19 percent raise in salaries is being demanded by The Royal College of Nursing (RCN), and it is said that it is becoming difficult to retain nurses due to inflation. Kidney dialysis, chemotherapy, intensive and critical care, children’s accident, and neonatal units will be kept functional despite being on strike.
However, pre-booked treatments for hip replacement, hernia repair, and other services at outpatient clinics will not cater to patients for two days of strike. On the other hand, health minister Maria Caulfield during a TV interview said that she empathizes with nurses, but this demand of a 19 percent raise in salaries is unrealistic.
