STEVE Barclay today warns NHS strikes pose “significant risk” to patients.
The Health Secretary said he was “deeply concerned” about the impact of walkouts by nurses and ambulance crews on the sick.
Health Secretary Steve Barclay leaves the Millbank studios in Westminster, Londo
They are his toughest comments yet and come as Brits prepare to be hit by the biggest wave of crippling strikes since the early 1980s.
Up to 100,000 nurses will walk out this Thursday and the following Tuesday in their first ever national strike.
Ambulance crews will down tools next week.
And rail workers, posties, and border force staff are all staging rolling strikes – wrecking Christmas parties and travel plans and clobbering businesses.
Yet dozens of firebrand Labour MPs are preparing to join the picket lines
In a blistering article for Trending In The News on Sunday, Mr Barclay said strikes will harm patients.
He said: “In a winter when we’re worrying about Covid, flu and Strep A – on top of the Covid backlogs – I am deeply concerned about the risks of strike action to patients.”
The minister added: “We are working hard to make sure patients experience as little disruption as possible, but with the NHS already under pressure due to the Covid pandemic and coming winter the risks to patients will be significant.”
The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) are striking over pay after demanding inflation-busting pay rise of 19 per cent.
Mr Barclay pleaded with the union chiefs to call off the walkouts and get back around the negotiating table.
Mick Lynch, general secretary of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT), is leading rail workers out on strike
Up to 15,000 operations are expected to be cancelled this week because of the nurses strike.
Troops will be drafted in to drive ambulances to help keep hospitals working.
But as British families and businesses count the devastating cost of the strikes misery, dozens of Labour MPs are expected to join picket lines.
Clive Lewis, Labour MP for Norwich South, told Trending In The News on Sunday: “I will join the picket line. I have always tried to get along to each striker’s picket to show my support for them.”
Andy McDonald, a former shadow minister, said: “I will be supporting those striking whenever I can.”
Sir Keir Starmer has ordered Labour MPs to stay away from picket lines – but many who have defied him have not been punished.
And it emerged yesterday the Labour Party has accepted £15million from striking unions since Sir Keir became leader in April 2020.
The Labour leader has repeatedly refused to condemn strikers.
Britain is being whacked by the biggest wave of industrial unrest in 40 years in a month of misery.
It will cost businesses billions in lost takings, while Christmas getaway plans for millions have been wrecked.
Gleeful trade union bosses affiliated to Labour have boasted about coordinating strikes.
Mick ‘the grinch’ Lynch, boss of the RMT has said unions have a “duty to coordinate” strikes.
Andy Prendergast, the GMB national secretary, said union leaders should coordinate to cause “maximum impact”.
Lord Ian Austin – a former Labour MP and political adviser to Gordon Brown who now sits as an independent peer – urged Sir Keir to get tough with Labour MPs who defy him to join pickets.
He said: “Keir Starmer has to make sure his shadow ministers are standing up for people who want to get to work and use public services and not just the hard left trade union bosses bringing the country to a standstill.
“That’s why he’ll have to sack shadow ministers who think their job is hanging around on picket line.”
Nurses will not strike in standalone children A&Es because of the Strep A crisis, the RCN said last night.
Pat Cullen, RCN general secretary, said: “For years, patients have paid the price for the government’s nurse shortage and that’s why the public backs our campaign.
“Patient safety is our top priority still now and this decision on protecting children’s A&Es shows that.
“Nurses in A&Es across the UK are playing a crucial role in handling Strep A right now.
“Ministers are refusing to move. They must negotiate with nurses – I won’t dig in, if they won’t dig in.”
