British hospital leaders are holding intensive talks with local union officials to try to limit the impact of strikes on critical services, after the Royal College of Nursing set out plans that could leave accident & emergency and maternity services with “Christmas Day” levels of staffing.

Up to 100,000 nurses will take part in industrial action at hospitals across England, Wales and Northern Ireland on December 15 and 20, marking the first nationwide strike in the RCN’s history.  

The union said on Friday that chemotherapy, dialysis, critical care units, neonatal units and paediatric intensive care would be among the “life-preserving” services that would be exempt from strike action. Staffing for other services could be reduced to Christmas Day or night duty levels.