What is happening?
Britain's nursing union , the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), has closed a historic strike ballot over pay levels for NHS nurses.
What does the union want?
The union wants nurses to get a pay rise 5 per cent above inflation, which currently sits around 12 per cent. This is far above the Government's offer of about 4 per cent.
What happens now the ballot is closed?
The RCN will tally the votes per UK nation with the results expected to be announced within the next few weeks.
What result is needed for nurses to go on strike?
Trade union laws differ per UK nation.
In England and Scotland, 50 per cent of the eligible membership must vote for the ballot to be valid, and at least 40 per cent of votes must be in favour of the action for the result to count.
For Wales, at least 50 per cent of the eligible membership must vote but only a simple majority is needed to determine the result.
Northern Ireland has the least restrictions on strike action ballots, only a simple majority of those who vote is required with no minimum turnout threshold.
When could nurses go on strike?
Northern Ireland requires strike action to take place within one month of the ballot closing, so before December 3.
The law in England, Scotland and Wales states strike action has to be held within six months of the ballot closing, so between now and the start of May.
Have any dates been announced?
No. It is also unclear if the strike will be held continuously, as in for multiple days in a row, or on certain days spaced throughout the month, for example.
Won't a strike put patients in danger?
Unlike other staff groups who take strike action like train drivers, nurses need to maintain a minimum staffing level to keep patients currently in hospital safe as well as for any emergency admissions.
So some nurses will be chosen to be exempt from the strike to provide this minimum level of service.
The exact numbers remaining on the job will be negotiated locally between the RCN and each NHS Trust/Board.
If some nurses are still working what's the point of a strike?
While life-saving care will be provided a nurses strike is likely to lead to cancellation of hundreds of routine operations like hip or knee replacements or diagnostic tests such as scans for cancer.
Similar large-scale strike action by junior doctors in 2016 led to the cancellation of 100,000 patient appointments.
Can nurses be sacked for striking?
No. NHS workers cannot legally be sacked if they participate in official and lawful industrial action.
Will the Government cave to RCN demands?
Unknown. But if the No10 gives
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