West Yorkshire nurses 'torn' in walk-out over pay

Picket lines are being held in Bradford and Leeds

Nurses in West Yorkshire have described being "torn" as they joined the first ever strike in a dispute over pay.

Picket lines were formed in Leeds and Bradford, while many NHS appointments and operations were cancelled as part of the UK-wide walk-out.

The Royal College of Nursing has called for a pay rise of 19.2%, but the government said that was unaffordable.

On the picket line in Leeds, nurse Lizzie Cafferky said: "We can't sustain how we're working at the moment."

Lizzie Cafferky said nurses had to make their voices heard

Ms Cafferky added: "I've cried and beaten myself up on whether striking is the right decision. I've been absolutely torn. But we've reached the point where something has to change.

"If we don't make our voices heard, then it's not going to change and things are going to carry on being OK when really it's not OK."

Joy Tapping joined the picket line having finished her night shift

Intensive care nurse Joy Tapping, who joined the picket line having just finished her night shift, said striking was "certainly something we don't want to be doing".

She said: "We're still plodding on, like we were in Covid. We haven't got enough staff to look after the patients at the moment and it's unsafe."

Strikers outside Leeds General Infirmary cheered as drivers in passing vehicles honked their horns in support, including ambulances arriving at the A&E with their blue lights flashing.

Members of the public also stopped to talk to nurses, with many bringing cakes and boxes of chocolates.

Nurses said they felt they had no choice but to strike

Leeds nurse Rhian said walking out was the "hardest thing" she had done in her career.

"We're doing this for everyone, to have proper nursing figures," she said.

"Having those proper nursing figures will mean we'll be able to reduce the waiting lists that are already there."

Analysis by Jamie Coulson, BBC Yorkshire health correspondent

"We're sorry this has happened, but the government could have stopped this. We have to fight for our patients."

Several hundred nurses are gathered outside the main entrance to the Leeds General Infirmary bathed in crisp winter sunshine.

There is a sense of anger, frustration and sadness among many on the picket line. They say they don't want to be on strike but feel forced to take action over pay and patient safety.

One nurse described being in tears over taking the decision to walk out but said she felt she had "no choice" but to take part.

Every now and then a car or ambulance will beep a horn in support and a huge cheer erupts. It has the feel of a reluctant but determined protest.

Nurses are striking over pay in what is set to be their biggest walkout in the NHS's history

Staff employed by Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust have joined a picket line at the city's Royal Infirmary.

Julie Jones said nurses "deserved a pay rise".

"We need a living wage, we need to retain staff and we need to support the young nurses that are coming in the profession who are leaving after three years with £36,000 worth of debt."

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What will nurses' strike mean for patients?

In total, more than 70 NHS organisations are expected to see strike action

Nurses at these NHS bodies are taking part in the first wave of strike action:

• The Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

• Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

• Leeds Community Healthcare NHS Trust

• NHS England

Emergency care will continue but routine services will be hit.

The government has offered an average 4.75% pay increase in England, with the lowest-paid guaranteed an increase of at least £1,400. The offer has been rejected, with Sarah Dodsworth, regional director for the Royal College of Nursing, stating members needed to protect nursing.

'Not enough staff'

Speaking on the eve of the strike, Ms Dodsworth said: "There is simply not enough nursing staff to care for patients today and if we do not do this strike action there will not be enough for the foreseeable future."

Meanwhile, the RCN has announced a second strike will take place on Tuesday 20 December.

The government has said it is disappointed some staff have chosen to take strike action, adding union demands are unaffordable in the current economic climate.