NURSES at Basildon & Thurrock Hospital are stepping up to the campaign plate and demanding that they be given recognition through their pay for their work in the fight against coronavirus – but they are doing it with a smile on their face and seeking creative ways to make their point.

In August Thurrock Nub News reported on a protest march from the hospital as nurses called for parity with other members of the NHS who had been given pay increases related to the impact of Covid-19.

Now nurses and other NHS staff across Mid and South Essex who support the grassroots campaign for a 15% pay rise for NHS healthcare workers plan to make their point again with a 'Protestival' which will be part of a national campaign.

With fears rising that a second Covid-19 wave is about to swamp the NHS and hospitals, NHS workers want the government to listen to their cause and a week of action began today (Monday, 12 October) and it will end with an online rally with live DJs.

From a spoken word poetry event expressing NHS workers' experiences to contacting your MP NHS workers are using creative methods to again challenge the government's decision ignore claims for a pay rise outside a previously agreed deal. Nurses say that average nurse has lost 20 per cent of his or her wage to inflation since 2010.

As well as supporting national 'Protestival' events, campaigners in the region plan local protests, ranging from contacting local MPs to 'banner drops' directed at the public. On Wednesday, 14 October banners will be displayed at: the footbridge across Nethermayne in Basildon from 4 to 5pm; and from the footbridge at Kent Elms across the A127 from 4.30 to 5.30pm.

Among the many supporting the protest are staff members at Basildon & Thurrock Hospital.

Among them is Leah, a nurse from Stanford-le-Hope, who told Thurrock Nub News today (Monday, 12 October): "The Royal College of Nurses recently did a survey which showed 36 per cent of nurses were thinking of leaving the profession. We already have more than 100,000 vacancies in the NHS. We cannot afford to lose any more valuable staff.

"We were told now is not the time to talk about our pay and we were told there was no money - yet MPs are giving themselves an extra £3,000 a year. What do they expect nurses, healthcare assistants and porters to live on? Thin air? NHS staff work extremely hard to keep everyone safe and care for your loved ones. We expect a fair wage to recognise this and to match our skill, expertise and responsibilities."

Anthony Johnson, a nurse and lead organiser for Nurses United, an organisation of frontline nurses, said: "Healthcare workers warned the government back in August there was a shortage of staff because of pay and work conditions and patient safety was at risk if the government didn't put frontline nurses and health workers first.

"With half the country in local lockdowns and hospitals beds filling up fast, the government needs to listen to NHS workers. Pay is directly linked to safe staffing and patient safety and now NHS staff are being driven into taking action to defend themselves so that when you press that buzzer there will be a nurse at the end of it."

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