Health minister Maria Caulfield says she empathises with nurses but she also empathises with the British people when it comes to funding big pay increases.
She says the 19% pay increase being demanded by the nurses’ union was “an unrealistic ask.”
Speaking on BBC Breakfast she adds: “We have to have a balance for everyone.”
But RCN leader, Pat Cullen, said Health secretary is being disingenuous
More from Pat Cullen, the head of the Royal College of Nursing.
She points out that nurses are asking for the 20% that has been eroded from pay over the last decade to be “put back in”.
“It’s pay recovery, not asking for additional money,” she tells BBC Breakfast.
Cullen believes there is room for negotiation and a resolution if the government is willing to talk about pay.
“But we can’t get there because every room I go into with the secretary of state he tells me we can talk about anything but pay.
“That’s going to resolve nothing.”
She is asked about Health Secretary Steve Barclay saying his door is always open.
“His door is open to talk about non-pay issues and I find that really disingenuous. I made that very clear when I came out of his room the other night.”
Asking Government to do what she called “decent thing”, Pat Cullen said Pat Cullen, general secretary of the Royal College of Nursing, calls on the government to do the “decent thing” and address pay this year.
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“What a tragic day. This is a tragic day for nursing, it’s a tragic day for patients. It’s a tragic day for this society and our NHS,” she tells BBC Breakfast.
“It’s tragic that this government has decided not to speak to us, get into a room and avert these strikes.”
She adds that vital treatment including chemotherapy and dialysis will continue today and paediatric A&Es will remain open.
“Nurses aren’t reckless people, we will continue to provide safe care today to our patients,” she says.
“If we are going to stop the drain out of our profession … please do the decent thing – address pay this year and then we’ll get down to talk about next year.”
What will the impact be?
Under trade union laws, life-preserving care has to be provided.
Therefore, all nursing staff would be expected to work in services such as intensive care.
In a letter to NHS bosses earlier this month, the RCN confirmed chemotherapy, dialysis, or intensive care services will not be hit by the strike action.
However, it said other services which do not meet this criteria may be reduced to a “Christmas Day” or “night duty” staffing level.
Details will be negotiated by local service managers and union representatives.
It is also possible that nurses could be pulled off picket lines to work if there are safety concerns during a strike.
Routine services – including planned operations such as knee and hip replacements, community nursing services and health visiting – are expected to be badly affected.
•Additional Reports From BBC