The pressure on the UK health system is at a high moment after the most important strike ever by the UK state’s National Health Service (NHS) launched on Monday, 6 February.

Tens of thousands of nurses and ambulance service staff from across the country, but mostly from the UK, went on strike to demand a substantial pay increase after their earnings lagged far behind rising inflation on the island, the highest in four decades and hitting double digits. .

The two groups have held separate protests over these claims since late 2022, but the joint strike is the heaviest blow to the stability of the NHS health system in 75 years.

This came after the Executive reiterated that a pay rise was unaffordable and would result in a chain of increases, among other negative economic impacts.

“The government needs to listen and talk about wages instead of just saying the NHS has no money,” said one protester outside St Thomas’ Hospital in the heart of London.

Stephen Powis, NHS medical director, anticipates that this will probably be the most disrupted week in the system after more strikes are confirmed for the next few days. Nurses will line up again on Tuesday, physiotherapists will line up on Thursday and on Friday it will be the turn of the ambulance personnel.

The situation of the state health apparatus is very sensitive. There are currently millions of patients on the waiting list for surgery and thousands more without emergency care for months.

The minister for mental health and women’s health strategy, Maria Caulfield, defended the reluctance to upgrade, stating that every percentage was taking money from the service and saying in dialogue with the ‘Sky News’ chain that they spent “one of the most busy winters, with a record level of funding going to the NHS to try to run the service.

Half a million workers, mostly in public spaces, went on strike all summer. During that period, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak tried to limit service disruptions, with the project imposing minimum conditions. During this time it also faced strong protests from railway workers and teachers.

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) union urged the prime minister to end the strike “immediately” by offering better conditions, but found no positive response.

In fact, a spokesperson stated on Monday that Sunak had no plans to get involved in the negotiations. “We want to continue to discuss how we can find a way forward with the union,” the spokesperson said.

The RCN, which points out that low wages contributed to the progressive nurse absenteeism of the last decade, called for a 5% hike above inflation, but failed to reach a deal despite weeks of talks.

In Wales, a strike was also planned, but was called off after an offer from the Welsh government to be studied.

with Reuters