TORY ministers are in denial about both the anger of nursing staff and the public support they have, the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) charged today ahead of what could be the biggest-ever strike by its members.

The union is due to unveil the results of its national ballot, which ended last week, in the next few days.

With voting papers still being counted, RCN sources have told the BBC that it looks like a large majority of nurses have voted in favour of walkouts following years of plummeting take-home pay.

The union had recommended to its 300,000 members that they back industrial action. If it takes place, it would affect non-urgent but not emergency care.

RCN general secretary Pat Cullen said: “Huge numbers of staff — both experienced and newer recruits — are deciding they cannot see a future in a nursing profession that is not valued nor treated fairly.

“Our strike action will be as much for patients as it is for nurses. We have their support in doing this.”

The government is appealing to the sector to “carefully consider” the impact on patients, but the RCN has stressed that workers have no choice but to act after most in England and Wales were given a below-inflation average wage boost of just 4.75 per cent earlier this year. 

NHS staff in Scotland were initially offered 5 per cent, but that has now risen to just over 8 per cent for newly qualified nurses — still a real terms pay cut.

The union is calling for an increase of 5 per cent above the retail price index inflation rate, which now stands at 12.6 per cent.

Today Cabinet Office Minister Oliver Dowden claimed the Department of Health has “well-oiled contingencies in place” in the event of walkouts. 

He told Sky News: “I would continue to urge nurses and others to resist going out on strike, even if they have voted to do so.

“We have already agreed quite considerable support for nurses.”

But an RCN spokesperson told the Morning Star that “cutting wages by 20 per cent since 2010 is the opposite of providing ‘considerable support’ for nurses — and the minister shouldn’t insult our members by pretending it is.

“The minister appears in denial about both the anger of staff and the public support we have,” they said.