<p>UK Prime Minister <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tag/rishi-sunak" target="_blank">Rishi Sunak </a>on Saturday called for "bold and radical" action to reform the crisis-hit state healthcare system as he held emergency talks with health leaders.</p>.<p>After years of underfinancing, the NHS state-funded health service is struggling to meet the demand for emergency medical care during a particularly difficult winter with high rates of coronavirus and flu.</p>.<p>Hospital and ambulance staff have launched rare strike action -- in the case of the nurses, for the first time in 100 years -- with many members of the public sympathetic to their cause.</p>.<p>Nurses are calling for a salary hike to reflect inflation soaring above 10 per cent.</p>.<p>After being accused of inaction, Sunak was hosting England's chief medical officer Chris Witty, and NHS England chief executive Amanda Pritchard at Downing Street on Saturday.</p>.<p>The meeting came ahead of talks planned between government officials and union leaders on Monday, aimed at ending the strikes.</p>.<p>"During the pandemic we had to bring boldness and radicalism to how we did things in order to get through," the prime minister was quoted as saying by Downing Street.</p>.<p>"I think we need that same bold and radical approach now."</p>.<p>He added: "Together today, we can figure out the things that will make the biggest difference to the country and everyone's family, in the short and medium term."</p>.<p>In a speech this week Sunak set out five priorities for 2023 including shortening NHS waiting lists.</p>.<p>The general secretary of the Royal College of Nursing union, Pat Cullen, told <em>BBC </em>radio that she would attend the Monday talks with the health minister Steve Barclay.</p>.<p>At the same time she said that Sunak should negotiate with nurses directly to prevent planned further strike action on January 18 and 19.</p>.<p>"He needs to come to the negotiation table with me and he needs to put money on that table, and it needs to be about the current year," she told the <em>BBC</em>.</p>
<p>UK Prime Minister <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tag/rishi-sunak" target="_blank">Rishi Sunak </a>on Saturday called for "bold and radical" action to reform the crisis-hit state healthcare system as he held emergency talks with health leaders.</p>.<p>After years of underfinancing, the NHS state-funded health service is struggling to meet the demand for emergency medical care during a particularly difficult winter with high rates of coronavirus and flu.</p>.<p>Hospital and ambulance staff have launched rare strike action -- in the case of the nurses, for the first time in 100 years -- with many members of the public sympathetic to their cause.</p>.<p>Nurses are calling for a salary hike to reflect inflation soaring above 10 per cent.</p>.<p>After being accused of inaction, Sunak was hosting England's chief medical officer Chris Witty, and NHS England chief executive Amanda Pritchard at Downing Street on Saturday.</p>.<p>The meeting came ahead of talks planned between government officials and union leaders on Monday, aimed at ending the strikes.</p>.<p>"During the pandemic we had to bring boldness and radicalism to how we did things in order to get through," the prime minister was quoted as saying by Downing Street.</p>.<p>"I think we need that same bold and radical approach now."</p>.<p>He added: "Together today, we can figure out the things that will make the biggest difference to the country and everyone's family, in the short and medium term."</p>.<p>In a speech this week Sunak set out five priorities for 2023 including shortening NHS waiting lists.</p>.<p>The general secretary of the Royal College of Nursing union, Pat Cullen, told <em>BBC </em>radio that she would attend the Monday talks with the health minister Steve Barclay.</p>.<p>At the same time she said that Sunak should negotiate with nurses directly to prevent planned further strike action on January 18 and 19.</p>.<p>"He needs to come to the negotiation table with me and he needs to put money on that table, and it needs to be about the current year," she told the <em>BBC</em>.</p>