Nurses in Kent are set to strike next month as rows over pay escalate.

The county will be hit by walkouts after the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) said more were planned unless negotiations are opened.

The South East was mostly unaffected by the most recent nurse strikes across England, Wales and Northern Ireland on 15 and 20 December, which involved more than 21,000 nursing staff.

However, following 10 days of no contact between the RCN and the government, the trade union announced the next industrial action – on January 18 and 19 – would be expanded.

The total number of affected trusts is increasing from 44 to 55 trusts, according to the RCN, which says it has repeatedly invited ministers to hold talks on NHS pay.

Both the NHS Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board and the South East Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust will be affected by the strikes next month.

This will mean a number of community hospitals and minor injury units across the county could be hit by walkouts from RCN members.

This includes:

• Edenbridge and District War Memorial Hospital
• Faversham Cottage Hospital
• Hawkhurst Community Hospital
• Queen Victoria Memorial Hospital
• Sevenoaks Hospital
• Tonbridge Cottage Hospital
• Victoria Hospital, Deal
• West View Hospital
• Whitstable and Tankerton Hospital

Minor injuries units across both west and east Kent could also be affected.

NHS hospitals and services have been coming under increased pressure recently due to increased levels of flu and Covid patients, as well as higher than usual cases of Strep A.

Yesterday, Medway Maritime Hospital in Gillingham declared a critical incident amid a significant rise in demands for services.

Hospital bosses stood down the warning this morning, but have warned it remains under "considerable pressure".

Earlier this week, South East Coast Ambulance service – which covers Kent – also declared a critical incident.

Bosses said this was due to the volume of calls it was receiving to 999 and 111 channels.

Mairead McCormick, Chief Executive of Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust, said: “While pay is a matter for Government and the trade unions, we value our colleagues and want to see a resolution as soon as possible so we can continue to focus on delivering safe patient care.”