Pay calls for from unions representing nurses are “neither reasonable nor affordable”, the well being secretary has mentioned after their members voted to go on strike.

Steve Barclay mentioned he was saddened by the proposed industrial action by the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), which he mentioned was in “nobody’s best interests”.

He has been immune to negotiating on pay after the union demanded a rise of no less than 15% in contrast with the £1,400 rise awarded earlier this 12 months.

Barclay mentioned the pay award “is a balanced increase”, which is “fair for nurses and the taxpayer”.

He wrote within the Sunday Telegraph: “Yet the RCN is demanding a massive pay rise of 17.6%; an increase that is simply neither reasonable nor affordable. It is about three times the average settlement that millions of hard-working people, including many Sunday Telegraph readers, working outside the public sector will typically receive.

“Huge settlements like these would turbocharge inflation when we are endeavouring to keep it under control. It will have an adverse impact on people’s incomes in the long run.”

Barclay wrote his door “will always be open” to the unions, after a “constructive” assembly with the RCN’s common secretary, Pat Cullen, in Whitehall on Thursday. The talks had been mentioned to have centered on a “wide range of issues” together with affected person security and dealing situations.

He went on: “If the RCN does go ahead with industrial action, I will make sure that emergency services continue to operate for those that need them most, and patients should continue to come forward for emergency services as normal. But it is inevitable that any strike would mean some patients will have their treatment delayed, and I would urge the unions to consider the impact on those who rely on the NHS for their care.

“We are facing a difficult winter for our whole country and industrial action is in nobody’s best interests.”

The RCN introduced on Wednesday that its members within the majority of NHS employers throughout the UK have backed industrial motion.

The well being service will flip its consideration to treating emergency sufferers in a “life-preserving care model”, with sources saying some hospitals on strike days can have staffing ranges just like these over Christmas.

Some of probably the most severe most cancers circumstances may nonetheless be handled, whereas pressing diagnostic procedures and assessments can be staffed if they’re wanted to assemble knowledge on probably life-threatening situations or people who may result in everlasting incapacity.

Industrial motion is predicted to be held earlier than the tip of the 12 months at a number of the UK’s largest hospitals, together with Guy’s and St Thomas’ reverse parliament, the Royal Infirmary in Edinburgh, University hospital Wales, and Belfast’s Royal Victoria.

Other well being employee unions together with Unison and the GMB will announce the results of strike ballots earlier than the tip of the month amongst employees together with ambulance drivers and paramedics, hospital porters and cleaners.