Manx Care staff stage Isle of Man's first nursing strike

Nurses employed by Manx Care have begun a strike over pay and conditions.

The 12-hour action, which began at 08:00 BST, is the first ever walk-out by members of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) on the Isle of Man.

Manx Care said while many routine appointments would be cancelled as a result of the action, emergency care would be maintained.

Nurse Debbie Wolfendale said staffing levels had been "so low" that "patient care is sliding and its frightening".

Some patients the nurses treated could see they were "so busy that half of them won't even call the bell" for assistance, she said.

Debbie Wolfendale worked in care for 20 years before recently qualifying as a nurse

Ms Wolfendale said some of her colleagues were in debt or relying on food banks due to the high cost of living on the island.

"We want an investment in nursing… to allow us pay the bills, to make it an industry people want to join," she said.

"People are not even wanting to stay, let alone join the profession."

The union said about 46% of the 550 members working for Manx Care took part in a vote about whether to take industrial action, 80% of whom supported striking.

Paul Wood from the RCN called on Manx Care to increase its pay offer for Manx nurses

Operational manager for RCN in North West Paul Wood said, after two years of negotiations, Manx Care's offer of a 6% pay increase and a £1,000 lump sum payment had "come nowhere near" the 15% uplift the union has been seeking.

He said: "This is about the way nursing pay has fallen behind compared to other industries.

"Compounding that there's a real recruitment problem on the Isle of Man.

"We just don't have enough staff to deliver a safe service, so we need to the employer to value the staff they've got but also pay staff appropriately to attract more people."

Mr Wood said the RCN believed a political decision had been made to stick at the current offer for nurses, as pay offers had improved throughout negotiations.

Pheric Joughin started working at Noble's hospital in 2016

Pheric Joughin, who is a registered nurse within the infection control team, has worked at Noble's Hospital since 2016.

He said: "I've experienced the short staffing on the wards, the risk that that presents, the stress that causes me and my colleagues and the upset that causes us going home."

"The cost of rent is so high, the cost of food is so high… nurses can't afford to care and that is wrong."

Manx Care CEO Teresa Cope previously said the health care body "respected and supported" members' decision to strike.

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