Nurses form picket line at Wrexham Maelor Hospital

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has never before in its 106-year history called a national strike.

But today, a picket line was set up outside the Heddfan Psychiatric Unit at the Wrexham Maelor Hospital. 

READ MORE: Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board's nursing director issues statement ahead of strike

Over 30 nurses stood holding signs and banners along the road encouraging drivers passing by to honk their horns to signal their support. 

One large sign read: 'Understaffed, Undervalued, Underpaid'. 

Billy Nichols, picket supervisor, said: "We really need a deal and a fair pay rise. 

Donna Jones, Jo Roberts, Haulwen Wright, Emma Chapman and Billy Nichols (Image: The Leader - Newsquest)

"We have got 50,000 vacancies in nursing and 3,000+ vacancies in Wales alone, with every single ward being short staffed.

"Nurses are going home crying and upset that they physically cannot give the level of care.

"You cannot pour an empty jug and right now nursing is an empty jug."

For some members of staff the day was extremely conflicting and emotional.

Donna Jones, a community nurse in Wrexham, said: "I never thought it would come to this, but we are not being listened to or supported."

She continued: "It is surreal, and conflicting, as a nurse your priority is your patients."

Several of Donna's colleagues echoed the concerns. 

One nurse said: "Without fair pay we cannot pay our bills. It's not looking like a very attractive profession."

Teleri Willis has been a qualified nurse for 14 years and believes the provision of service has changed greatly over the years. 

Nurses strike Wrexham (Image: The Leader - Newsquest)

Discussing the recent reports of long waiting times and waits for services she said: "Moral is at an all time low and we have no control over it."

Kyza Edwards said: "We are just exhausted, I entered the profession looking to be a compassionate caring nurse but we don't have the time to do that."

The nurse has seen numerous colleagues that qualified at the same time leave the NHS or the profession altogether. 

Laura Thrift is a single mum and for her, the current salary is barely enough to survive and make ends meet. 

Laura Thrift, Micheal Kelly, Harriet Mallott and Catrin Hayward (Image: The Leader - Newsquest)

"I am a single mum and I also receive universal credit and without that I wouldn't survive.

"As a degree-qualified nurse that shouldn't be the case."

The industrial action is taking place today from 7am until 7pm.

Health minister Eluned Morgan said: “The strikes which begin today will inevitably have a significant impact on NHS services. But we recognise the strength of feeling among staff, which the difficult decision to vote for industrial action reflects.

“While we were unable to avert this week’s industrial action, all partners have agreed to keep talking and continue to work together.”

The strikes are expected to cause mass disruption, with thousands of routine operations and non-emergency appointments cancelled.

Patients affected should be contacted by their health boards with the aim of rescheduling new appointments as soon as possible.

Despite predictions that services will be affected due to striking action today nurse Harriet Mallott commented from the picket line that: "We are always short staffed and dealing with low staff numbers like there will be today."

She continued: "It's causing staff members to put their safety at risk and causing lots of nurses to go off on stress."

Staff in all but one of the country’s health boards are taking part in the walk-out today.

Last-minute talks between the unions and Welsh Government to resolve the pay dispute collapsed on Monday.

The RCN maintains the offer of a flat pay increase of £1,400 for most on Agenda for Change pay bands, which was recommended by NHS pay review body, is not enough.

The Welsh Government has said without extra money from the UK Government it is unable to offer more.