Nurses call for public understanding but the government says their action will impact patient care.
, but ministers ruled out reopening this year's pay award, worth an extra 4.75% on average, and instead have urged unions to start discussing next year's deal.Striking nurses gathered outside the Royal Cornwall Hospital
Stuart Quarterman, RCN steward and a registered nurse, said he hoped the government would "start to engage".Surgical specialist nurse Shaji Devadasan said the striking staff should be "inside the hospital, caring for patients" and that strike action would end if the government made a deal.
Fellow nurse Roisin Macsweeney said: "I do think the public do support us and it is about them; it's about their health, their wellbeing and doing what we can to protect people who are vulnerable and can't speak up for themselves."Follow BBC News South West on
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