Nurses agree ballot

The ruling council of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has authorised the holding of an industrial action ballot at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford. The dispute is over long-standing concerns about patient care and safety in the accident and emergency department.

It is only the fourth time the RCN council has authorised such a ballot, and so far none has proceeded. As Labour Research went to press negotiations with the hospital management were continuing and no decision had been taken to proceed with the ballot.