In response to news that Royal College of Nursing members in a majority of NHS employers have voted to strike, the interim chief executive of NHS Providers, Saffron Cordery, said:

"Trust leaders have been planning for possible strikes. Their priorities are to ensure the safe delivery of care and services for patients during any industrial action and to support the wellbeing of their staff.

"We need to see the detail of what any action might look like but trust leaders will do all they can to minimise disruption for patients.

"We understand just how strongly nurses feel and why they've got to this point: below-inflation pay awards amid the rising cost of living, severe staff shortages and ever-increasing workloads. The context of a very challenging period due to the COVID-19 pandemic also can't be understated.

"The government needs to sit down with union leaders to find an agreed solution as soon as possible. Prolonged action is something everyone wants to avoid."