Striking nurses on a picket line at St Thomas’ hospital have said they were “saddened” to see the “World Cup got more coverage than the nurses strike”.<br /><br />Around 100,000 nurses across England, Northern Ireland, and Wales have begun the first of two day-long strikes over real-terms pay cuts, conditions and fears over patient safety.<br /><br />Strikes will also take place on December 20, and the two walkouts are the biggest ever round of industrial action by NHS nurses.<br /><br />Royal College of Nursing (RCN), which wants a 19% pay rise, or inflation plus 5%, general secretary Pat Cullen said it was “a tragic day for nursing, it’s a tragic day for patients”.<br /><br />Striking staff have rallied at a picket line outside St Thomas’ Hospital, in Westminster.
