FSRH Statement on Nurses Industrial Action

Nurses represented by the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) have voted in favour of strike action in a dispute over pay. The Faculty of Sexual & Reproductive Healthcare (FSRH) has many nurse members, who are essential to the delivery of sexual and reproductive healthcare. For several years, we have heard from our nurse members of their difficulties ensuring patient safety in the context of understaffing.

Sexual and reproductive healthcare services have suffered from years of underfunding and under prioritisation. In recent years, the situation has deteriorated further with many of our nurse members reporting feeling demoralised and burnt out by their increasing workloads as nurse vacancies increase. FSRH believes it is essential that the Government fulfils its manifesto commitment for 50,000 new nurses to be hired by 2024.

Nurses are the backbone of our NHS and must be properly supported and resourced to effectively care for their patients across the four nations of the UK.