NURSES have won resounding support from Cheshire residents for their industrial action.

Just hours after the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) announced the first strike in its 106-year history, members of the public pledged their support.

People say that nurses deserve better pay and working conditions.

Many believe they shouldn’t have to walk out but understand it is the only way they will get their voices heard.

After all the sacrifices and long hours nurses faced treating Covid patients, people say their dedication should be recognised with higher salaries.

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Posting on the Guardian Facebook page, readers believe medical staff are ‘overworked and underpaid’.

Edward Fielder said: “I back the nurses, they deserve so much more.”

Karl Clarke added: “Government officials get three times the nurses’ wage in allowances.

“Ditching the car parking charges would be the equivalent to a one per cent pay rise alone.

“The NHS is at breaking point, not because of Covid, but the poor management of it.

“Nurses have been pushed to the brink. They deserve a decent pay rise for the last two years of hell they went through.”

Warren Joseph said: “These people deserve to be paid a decent wage.

“They work incredibly hard. They deserve more than the weekly hand clap they got for keeping us going through Covid.

“It should never come to this.

“If you were out there clapping, then support them now when it can really make a difference.”

Jacqui Wardle added: “Good on them.

“The poor pay, working conditions and often abused by patients, no wonder nurses are leaving the NHS for better pay, social hours and working conditions, not to mention stress.”

Rachael Birch said: “All people in health and care sector deserve better pay.

“It’s the worst paid sector, NHS or private.”

Chris Byrne added: “It’ll be worse if they all bugger off to better paid jobs, to work in better conditions.

“We should all support them now.”

Nurses will walk out in more than half of hospitals and community teams across the country.

Several NHS hospital trusts in Cheshire could face disruption which is likely to affect Leighton Hospital.

An NHS spokesperson said: “While pay is a matter for Government and the trade unions, we value our staff and want to see a resolution as soon as possible to ensure we can continue to focus on supporting our NHS organisations to deliver world class patient care to all those who need it.”