Hospital is accused of risking patients' health by asking their FAMILIES to ... trends now
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A hospital has been accused of putting lives at risk by asking patients’ friends and family to help out on strike days.
Nurses at 55 NHS trusts in England are walking out today and tomorrow in pursuit of an inflation-busting 19.2 per cent pay rise.
Dorset County Hospital issued a plea for ‘additional support’ and lifted its usual restrictions on visiting times.
The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) also announced strikes next month over 73 trusts.
Nurses at 55 NHS trusts in England are walking out today and tomorrow in pursuit of an inflation-busting 19.2 per cent pay rise
A message on the Dorset County Hospital website says: ‘Relatives and friends of patients in hospital will be able to visit general inpatient wards at any time between 10am and 8pm during Wednesday 18 January and Thursday 19 January, rather than being restricted to the usual ward visiting hours.
‘While all our wards will be safely staffed during the industrial action, additional support from families and friends would be welcomed during this time so that our nursing staff can focus on clinical care – for example, to assist with mealtimes.’
It also urged relatives to ‘help’ rapidly discharge fit patients.
Last month, the Royal Mail asked staff to bring parents, siblings and friends to work to help break strikes by the Communication Workers Union
