We're taken for granted, say nurses joining protest march

Thousands of nurses will take to the streets to demonstrate against NHS cutbacks and threats to patient care.

Britain's top nursing chief warned today that next month's London march is just the start of many protests.

Dr Peter Carter, head of the Royal College of Nursing, said nurses were taking part in the action organised by the TUC because they felt "taken for granted" by the Coalition, which has imposed a two-year pay freeze.

He said: "We expect thousands of nurses and healthcare assistants to turn out. It's an indicator that people are disaffected.

"We are seeing a series of so-called efficiency measures which will stack up problems. Nurses feel they're taken for granted. There's no appetite for industrial action but there is a growing appetite for demonstrations."

More than 3,000 NHS jobs face the axe in London alone.