West Suffolk and Ipswich Hospital bosses respond to Royal College of Nursing strike action
Hospital bosses in Suffolk have said the safety of patients is their key priority, after the Royal College of Nursing announced their members would be taking strike action.
At this stage no dates for the RCN strikes have been confirmed and the union has to give 14 days notice if strike action is going ahead.
Earlier this week the RCN said that their members at West Suffolk Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust (ESNEFT), had voted for strike action.
Jeremy Over, is the executive director of workforce and communications at West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust which runs West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds and Newmarket Hospital.
He said that his team have received assurances for the RCN that patient safety will be prioritised and that emergency care services will be protected.
Mr Over said: "Following the announcement of the result of the RCN ballot it has been confirmed that our nursing colleagues have voted in favour of taking industrial action."
He added: "We understand the issues that underlie this campaign and know that for many colleagues who voted, they have done so reluctantly and with a heavy heart.
"In partnership with union representatives, we are working to ensure that patients and colleagues feel supported.
"We have tried and tested plans in place to manage any disruption, including industrial action, so we can care for all those who need us."
Nick Hulme the chief executive of ESNEFT, which runs Ipswich and Colchester hospitals, said the trust are 'planning for all eventualities' and patient safety is their 'top priority'.
Mr Hulme added: "We value all our staff and understand the importance of good pay and conditions for individuals and their families, as well as for wider NHS staff retention and recruitment.
“While pay is a matter for Government and the trade unions, we want to see a resolution as soon as possible to make sure we can continue to focus on delivering high quality and compassionate patient care to anyone in our communities who needs it.”
