British nurses yesterday staged an unprecedented one-day strike as a last resort in their fight for better wages and working conditions, despite warnings it could put patients at risk.

Up to 100,000 members of the Royal College of Nursing in England, Wales and Northern Ireland stopped work after rejecting a government pay offer.

The UK is currently grappling with a cost-of-living crisis as spiraling inflation outstrips wage growth, stoking tensions between unions and employers in various sectors.

Of all the strikes though, it will be the sight of National Health Service nurses on picket lines that will be the stand-out image for many Britons this winter.

"This is a tragic day for nursing, patients, hospitals, society and for our NHS," said Pat Cullen, the head of the RCN union, on a picket line.

The widely admired nursing profession shut down parts of the NHS, which since its founding in 1948 has developed national treasure status for being free at the point of use, hitting health-care provision when it is already stretched in winter and with backlogs at record levels due to Covid delays.

Health minister Steve Barclay said it was deeply regrettable the strike went ahead, saying he was "concerned about the risk that strikes pose to patients."

Union leaders and health workers also said nurses were being overworked due to staff shortages, as the NHS battled a backlog in appointments made worse by cancellations during the pandemic.

Chemotherapy, dialysis, intensive care and high-dependency units as well as neonatal and pediatric intensive care will be protected. But other services will be reduced to Christmas staffing levels during the walkout, the RCN said.

Health chiefs warned unions that care levels could suffer because of the walkout, just as seasonal respiratory conditions such as flu add pressure on already stretched services.

AGENCIES

The nurses' strike across the UK hits a health-care service already stretched in winter and with backlogs at record levels due to Covid delays. AP, REUTERS

Nurses on picket lines a new low for Britain