We will support midwives on strikes, says chief nurse

ENGLAND’S most senior nurse has suggested she would back a strike by midwives.

Dame Ruth May, the chief nursing officer for England, repeatedly told midwives she would support them to “use their voices” as she addressed the annual conference of the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) in Newport, Wales.

After referring to the forthcoming ballot of members on industrial action, she said: “If you want to use your voice, remember, we will support you to use your voice… I want to make clear nurses, midwives, when they go through these difficult decisions – they know they have backing and support.”

Dame Ruth spoke about how the recent Ockenden report, which investigated a wave of mother and baby deaths and injuries at Shrewsbury and Telford NHS Trust, as well as forthcoming reports into similar issues in East Kent and Nottingham, all mentioned or were examining staff shortages as a contributing factor.

She suggested pay rises could counteract the high numbers of midwives leaving the profession. “Pay is important. Pay is a factor. As chief nursing officer for England, I want nurses and midwives across England to be rewarded appropriately for the job they do, the experience they have and for their expertise,” she said.

Earlier, Gill Walton, the RCM chief executive, urged members to strike, saying it may be their “only resort left” to secure a pay rise. She added that staff “cannot and will not” let below-inflation pay rises continue amid difficult working conditions.

Last month, the union announced that members would be formally balloted on strikes after a consultation found three quarters were in favour.

A ballot in Scotland is already open and dates for England and Wales are expected to be announced shortly, Ms Walton confirmed. Strikes could take place later this year or in January.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said: “We value the hard work of NHS staff and are working hard to support them – including by giving over 1 million NHS workers a pay rise of at least £1,400 this year. Industrial action is a matter for unions, and we urge them to carefully consider the potential impacts on patients.”