Nurses in the county have gone on strike again today after the government refused to negotiate.

Nurses on the picket line in Llandrindod Wells say they have received a huge amount of support from the public, with people bringing them gifts – including a woman who was on a ventilator after having Covid.  

Katie Nield said she is backing the strike so that it will be easier to staff the local health service, which she said will help with training and the retention of staff.

“It means that students and the newly qualified end up being left in charge or used as healthcare assistants because there is nobody around who can or has the time to train you or teach you things,” said Ms Nield.

She also said that low pay is having a dramatic effect on her living standards, adding: “This month, in particular a week before payday I was having to borrow money from my parents to put electricity on the meter so that I could have hot water on the gas meter and electricity in my house – and that’s just me living alone with not particularly expensive rent.”

Ms Nield also said the physical toll of the job due short staffing, was huge leading to her falling asleep on handover and back problems.

She says the pay demands would allow her to afford the basics in her life: “Going home and pop money on my electric meter, you know simple things, it’s not like I am asking for a trip to Italy every three months.”

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RCN Wales Director, Helen Whyley called on the Welsh Government to break with Westminster and negotiate a deal with the RCN.

“NHS Wales pay is a Welsh Government decision. Health care services are devolved. The First Minister has said in the past he believes in devolution because it allows Welsh solutions to Welsh problems. This is Mark Drakeford government’s opportunity to do just that,” said Ms Whyley.

“I am calling on the Welsh Government to make a genuine commitment to improving the current pay award and to meet with the Royal College of Nursing to resolve this dispute.

“The Welsh Government must find a way forward with or without additional funding from the UK Government.

First Minister Mr Drakeford told the BBC that he cannot offer improved pay unless Westminster gives him more funds.

"It is simply the truth that the amount of money we get for public services and pay in Wales is a consequence of the decisions that English ministers make for England.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has refused to budge on the issue and said in an interview this week that “I won't back down on strikes.”