LABOUR and Liberal Democrat councillors have spoken out in support of Colchester’s nurses who will stage a walk-out next week in a battle over pay.

With demands of 19 per cent pay increase not met by the government, 55 NHS trusts across England will see staff go out on strike, including those at ESNEFT.

Labour councillor Adam Fox said of the action: “Since that pay review body recommendation of three per cent, inflation has gone through the roof.

“When things change that much, it’s incumbent on the government to sit down and negotiate with the trade unions.

"The nurses are absolutely justified to go out on strike – I know the nurses have got the support of the vast majority of local people.”

Martin Goss, a Liberal Democrat councillor took aim at Colchester MP and health minister Will Quince after he called the strikes “deeply regrettable.”

He said: “He has the opportunity to resolve it once and for all.

“He needs to take a hard look at himself and his salary and benefits compared to that of a front line nurse and maybe take some stock of reality given how poorly paid nurses are.

“They need to be paid a proper salary for the hard work they do.”

Mr Quince described the decision of Colchester Hospital’s nurses to go on strike as “deeply regrettable”, having previously labelled the action “unnecessary and unjustified” in the House of Commons.

A two-day strike, which is set to take place on Wednesday, January 18, and Thursday, January 19, could see non-urgent operations and appointments rearranged as nurses push for a pay increase of 19 per cent.  

Although reports surfaced on Friday that the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) could be willing to accept a pay rise of ten per cent, strikes are still scheduled to go ahead.

Mr Quince said: “I know nurses are incredibly dedicated to their job and it is deeply regrettable some union members are going ahead with strike action.

“We have accepted the recommendations of the independent NHS Pay Review Body in full to give nurses a pay rise of at least £1,400 – on top of a 3% pay rise last year when wider public sector pay was frozen and further pay increases would mean taking money away from frontline services at a time of significant pressure following the pandemic.

“This year we will also publish a comprehensive workforce strategy to help recruit and retain more nurses to make the NHS the best place to work.”