COLCHESTER Hospital nurses looking to strike over pay and staff shortages have the unwavering support of Gazette readers, according to the results of a poll.

Frontline workers at the Turner Road health facility, run by the East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust, have voted to picket on January 18 and 19.

The Royal College of Nursing members are taking action in protest of low wages and a lack of employees within the NHS, which they say is risking the safety of patients.

Since the news of the strikes was confirmed, bosses at Colchester Hospital have said non-urgent operations and appointments may have to be rescheduled.

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Despite this, Gazette readers seemingly more concerned with the bigger picture are now backing the nurses and their reasons for wanting to down tools.

According to the outcome of a Gazette poll in which 202 people voted, 70 per cent – or 141 people - said they support the NHS workers in Colchester and their two-day strike.

Chrissie Bissell said: “Nurses do the job because they care but are striking because they are working in unsafe conditions.

“They do not want to see patients dying in corridors and we all need to be united in fighting for our NHS.”

READ MORE: Colchester Hospital puts plans in place after nurses confirm strike

Tracey-Luff Johnson is also backing the picketing nurses, saying for years they have had to constantly perform miracles in order to keep the NHS ticking over.

She said: “Day after day, year in year out, NHS workers work so hard and pull so many rabbits out of hats to help us when we are ill.

“They have run out of fairy dust and sticking plasters now and so they need more funding and need paying a decent salary.

“They deserve to be considered equally as important as all others considered essential workers - without them we indeed are helpless and will suffer muchly.

“I do not agree with strikes unless all other avenues have been explored and in this case they really do have no options left.”

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Steph Smith, meanwhile, said: “They should strike every day until this is sorted. They are massively underpaid and overworked.”

The other 59 voters, which equates to roughly 30 per cent of those who took part in the poll, said they did not believe striking was the best course of action.

Jeremy Morris, who does not support the strike, said: “What I would like to see is a proper grown-up conversation about the future of the NHS.

“It needs to change, and it needs to change quickly if it is to survive.”

Others say they are concerned about the impacts the strikes could have in the short-term.

Jessica Clark added: “I do agree they need better pay but I really don't believe that strikes are the right way to address issues.”