PATIENTS at Leighton Hospital could be faced with disruption after nurses across the country voted to strike in a dispute over pay.

Today, The Royal College of Nursing (RCN), which represents close to half a million nurses, announced the action in its first UK-wide strike action in its 106-year history.

Many of England's biggest hospitals will see strikes by members, however some 'narrowly missed' the legal turnout thresholds to qualify for action, the RCN has said.

Industrial action could take place at the Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which manages Leighton Hospital in Crewe, Victoria Infirmary in Northwich, and Elmhurst Intermediate Care Centre in Winsford.

Several NHS hospital trusts in Cheshire, and across the North West, could be impacted by the strikes, which is expected to take place before the end of this year.

These include:

  • Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (MCHFT)
  • Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
  • The Christie NHS Foundation Trust
  • Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (CWP)
  • Central Cheshire Integrated Care Partnership
  • Bridgewater Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
  • Wirral Community Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust
  • Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Found Trust
  • NHS Cheshire and Merseyside ICB
  • Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust

An RCN spokesperson said: “Cutting nurses’ wages by 20 per cent since 2010 is the opposite of providing ‘considerable support’ for nurses and the Cabinet Office Minister shouldn’t insult our members by pretending it is.

"The minister appears in denial about both the anger of nursing staff and the public support we have."

The Guardian has contacted the hospital trusts on its patch, including MCHFT, the Countess of Chester, The Christie and CWP, for comment.