The NHS, the United Kingdom's public health service, will face its largest-ever day of strike action on Monday, with both nurses and ambulance drivers deciding to stop working at the same time, for the first time in British history.
NHS employees started a series of large-scale strikes in December to demand pay rises during the ongoing cost of living crisis, with inflation standing at 10% in the country. These strikes have continued into 2023, with Monday's strike set to cause major disruption to hospitals, which are already approaching a "critical point," stated NHS Providers.
In response, the UK's Health Secretary Steve Barclay has warned patients that they will face further delays on Monday, with 88,000 or so medical appointments having already been cancelled.
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The British government has chosen not to move on its position: "trying to beat inflation with high pay rises, the situation will only get worse and people will not be better off," Barclay insisted.
As a result, the Royal College of Nursing union also called for strike action on Tuesday. Ambulance workers, on the other hand, are set to return to work on that day, but will once again be striking on Friday.
