Will striking nurses affect my care as an NHS patient? That’s a price I’m willing to pay | Melanie Duddridge

I’m joining the picket line to support staff fighting to preserve the health service for all of us

When my daughter was born more than eight weeks early, and lived in the hospital for her first six weeks of life in 2011, nurses helped to save her life. When I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2014, a breast cancer nurse was with me every step of the way through my recovery, and we still keep in touch. Today, I live with Crohn’s disease, fibromyalgia and chronic asthma and rely on the NHS every day – that’s why I will be on the picket line supporting striking nurses.

I know the strikes might affect my care in the weeks to come, but this action is needed to keep patients like me safe. Nurses aren’t just going on strike for themselves, they’re striking to preserve the NHS for all of us.

Melanie Duddridge is a disabled mother and an NHS patient-activist in her spare time

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from The Guardian https://ift.tt/grBXM5u