The U.K.’s beleaguered health services face yet another blow as the country’s main nursing union looks to have voted in favour of industrial action.
The Royal College of Nursing asked its 300,000 members to strike over pay in a ballot that ended last week. Although official results have not yet been announced, sources have told several U.K. publications nurses have largely agreed to the action.
If a strike goes ahead, it will be the first-ever walkout of its kind.
The move would put extra pressure on already intensely overstretched services, exacerbating twin crises in emergency and non-urgent care. As hospitals struggle to get on top of lengthy waiting lists, a strike would likely lead to further cancellations of appointments.
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