should the government be ashamed

midgey

Any government that thinks twelve hour shifts are acceptable should be ashamed in my opinion. I don’t blame the strikers, I blame management and the government.

I couldn't agree more. My DIL is a nurse and those 12 hr shifts are wearing her out.

And even worse, sometimes a 12 hr shift isn't a 12hr shift, she can't always call it a day because she's done 12hrs.

The nurses and the ambulance people should be ashamed of their own non-professional behaviour. The post office will have damaged the trade of so many businesses with the timing of this spiteful act, where people dare not trust ordering anything online in case it does not arrive before Christmas. The trains and other transport connected strikes will ruin Christmas for so many families who now cannot meet up. this is nothing to do with the government it is just unkind nasty behaviour from people who really should know better.

Train drivers are on strike. Also check online how much a train driver earns before agreeing that they need such a big pay rise. They earn way above the average salary. The majority of people in Britain would be more than happy with the salary if they knew. On the other hand ambulance staff are not paid anywhere near enough for the responsibility they have.

I dont know how they can justify any pay rise at less than 10% when that is what they are giving to claimants on universal credit to keep up with inflation. Working people also need to keep pace with inflation. Getting to work regardless of what method you choose is not cheap.
The NHS had major problems long before they decided to strike and a lot of it is about patient's safety.
Not really safe for someone who has gone into hospital by ambulance, who in most cases needs emergency care, to then have to sit in that ambulance for sometimes 12 hrs or more receiving no emergency care and with no access to food, water or a toilet.
I recently left the NHS through ill health after doing nearly 20 yrs for them and the workload for the staff on the wards is not fair on staff or patients.
Think the NHS needs a complete overhaul to bring it into the 21st century. Not sure how that can be done

Oh dear - vulnerable …government - a touch of ’allo ’allo!

If the past is anything to go by the Tories will bring the country and vulneable people to their knees then leave the next likely Labour givernment to pick up the mess - from which they will insist that the country’s economy is not safe in Labour hands - despite evidence to the contrary, given that the latter day Tory governments borrowed more during ’austerity’ than all Labour governments since the war. I had an intense dislike of Blaire/Brown but NHS waiting times were much reduced and pioneering ’Early Start’ policies wete of great benefit to children fron less fortunate families

MPs aren't bothered about the strikes. They have the resources to live their lives without the railways, or the ambulance service. They don't rely on the NHS, and allowing it to sink further into decline will just make it easier to continue to privatise it.

I think that Britain is a relatively poor country which is pretending to be rich- so says Matthew Lynn in the Telegraph. The article makes sober reading and sums up so much of the illusion of living in luxury while working less and less.

No government of any colour can afford to pay 19%.what is annoying is the continuous statement that pay will not be discussed.only an idiot would bury their head in the sand.I wonder when the subject of pay for mps arrives, what the recommendation will be ?

This Government have no shame …… just excuses, lies and selfishness

It is allvery depressing. On top of everything our area of West Sussex has been without water since Sun lunchtime. Water back at midnight before going off again and no further update. No free bottled water available anywhere near...what a shambles this country is in !

Absolutely the government should be hanging their heads in shame. They are so arrogant in thinking that the public will turn against the strikers. Well this member of the public won’t. We need an election NOW!

Looks lovely ke Thatcher’s plan to get rid of the NHS is going through it’s first phase again. You’ve got to hand it to them for perseverance! I hope the public don’t turn on the strikers and , instead, get rid of the Tories for good.

My Cousin had his chemo cancelled yesterday because of the strikes.

If only the Government's pay increases were the same as those imposed on Health workers, teachers, bin men etc, instead of the 10% plus usually awarded. They are public employee too

I doubt the strikes are devised to bring down the government: most people know the Tories will hang on till the bitter end because they want to trouser the excellent pay and allowances before they lose their jobs and a miracle might save them. Strikers lose pay through striking and that is a real cost to them and their families. It takes a while to make up that loss even if they get a decent increase. The Tories put out all sorts of misleading stuff about strikers' average wages, usually by including highly paid staff like train drivers ( who are not in usually in the RMT) and omit to include for consideration by the public the debts incurred by studying for a nursing degree or the extra tax raised from increased salaries and wages or the use of food banks by nurses and other public sector workers. You might be annoyed you earn less than a nurse but joining a union might be a good idea.

My daughter is a nurse and for going to work every day she has to pay a £120 a year registration fee. She works on a 20 bed geriatric dementia ward, where none of the patients can do anything for themselves. New contracts were brought in where any nurse should not be responsible for more than 7 patients, yet there are only 2 qualified nurses on any shift. All patients have to be washed/dressed/medicated/ fed -often food which has gone cold. All this as well as watching over vulnerable people who try and get out through windows/door etc.
My 22 year old grandson is a postman, working 60 hours a week as they haven't got enough staff. The new contracts which they want to bring in mean a later start to the working day, so some people would be getting their post at 5/6pm and parcels would still be waiting to be collected.
People should not believe everything they hear/read on the news and from the Government.

Wow well done to you all not one of you mentioned the military having to work to cover all these strikers and having to give up their Christmas with family and loved ones. Yes ppl should get a decent wage but not at the min everyone is struggling with covid and putin. Ppl need to stop wasting money and living beyond their means. And buying stuff on the never never

The Government don't know what shame is. They don't have a conscience or a shred of compassion. I support the NHS/ambulance strikers. Steve Barclay said yesterday that the strikers were putting patients at risk of harm. Has he not realised that patients are at risk of harm every day because of staff shortages? A nurse on TV yesterday said that mistakes are being made, important tasks and procedures being overlooked because of the pressures staff are under. The Conservatives' austerity measures have for years contributed to the dire state of the NHS. Money could be found to sort this out the NHS and care system if there was a will for it. There should be a clamp down on financial schemes to avoid tax (eg. off-shore accounts etc). Many of us would be willing to pay a little more tax if it were dedicated specifically to the NHS. DH and I have been retired for over 20 years and thus not paid any National Insurance. When the NHS was founded, life expectancy was much lower than it is now. We receive heating allowance every year - untaxed. For the better off these could be taxable "perks". We are on course to lose the NHS altogether. Some new thinking is needed to save it but this Government lacks the will to do anything.

A sad state of affairs for sure. But these are hard times for so many that I feel we should all develop more of an attitude of we are in this together and we will get out of it together. Than pointing fingers to blame someone else. It saddens me deeply that the NHS is in such a mess and I know the strike is as much about better conditions as it is about pay. Lets help them out . Wash our loved ones in hospitals and care homes . Help to feed those unable to feed themselves. Get people to appointments or emergency dept without using ambulances. Use helplines for advice. Respect the staff.

My answer is No.
The country has been through such a turbulent time since early 2020. COVID was not the government’s fault and I think that overall we were looked after well. Neither is the government to blame for Putin’s actions, which have driven up food and fuel prices.
Now is the time for all of us to pull together, not make selfish demands for ridiculous pay increases. Nowadays some people expect the government to do everything for them.

Blue versus Red AGAIN. Its Christmas so bah humbug to the political arguing!

The problem is no governments taking a long term view on how the UK produces energy and the fact the UK has an ageing population. To reliant on other countries and now we find our selves in this situation and no long terms plans in place for the care of the elderly, I think all governments should hang their heads in shame.
After 2 years of Covid the fact strikes are going on to ruin this years Christmas is unforgiveable they could have gone on strike after the New Year.
It just adds so much worry for everyone, shame we couldn't all have had a nice Christmas this year.
Not all the strikes are solely about money some are about working conditions which do need to change.

Why do so many governments not think logically? They seem to avoid the obvious while doing the ridiculous. It needs somebody with the right head on to go back to basics and deal with the important stuff that gets us back to being a country to be proud of!

Annie.. I agree.
I'm still working in the NHS as a Health care Professional.
I was told years and years ago, at a meeting "Politics and Politician's should be kept out of anything to do with the NHS" .
I work in a PFI Hospital with an eye watering mortgage, it was one of Tony Blaire's.
We can't apply to become a Foundation Hospital due to this, where we could sort out our own finances.
The management team are good they really know, how to achieve the best in the current climate.

The Nurses in the RCN within my Trust are not on strike but we all agree we need more staff at all levels. They the Government at the time knew there would be a problem about 15 years ago., the Unions picked it up, age of Staff, pension changes, the Government did sod all with that information.
The pay Bands under Agenda for Change is the same for all Profession staff regardless of what you do.

If the Lab Staff walked out, then you really have a major problem which will hit GP 's as well.

Those in Bands 1-4 do need an uplift without doubt but " Nurses" start on a Band 5 min, same as everyone with a degree or equivalent qualification.
Realistically 19 % there isn't the money as everyone in all Bands will have to have that uplift.

The pay review body need to step up to the plate and get involved now, not next year.
However, Teachers Armed services, local Authorities will need to be included in any future talks as they won't get left behind.

I don’t think shame is on the agenda at Eton and similar establishments. Most Tories seem to think that, like the medieval monarchy, they rule by Divine Right. I sincerely hope the next election proves them wrong. I’m too old to endure more years of Tory government.