Some nurses could walk out of Musgrove Park Hospital on April 30, after members of largest nursing union voted to reject the government's latest pay offer.

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) had previously announced strike action for early March, but the government’s negotiations with the union put the plans on pause.

The latest pay offer by government was made on Thursday, March 16, following six days of strike action and four weeks of intensive pay talks with the UK government. 

But members of the union have voted to reject a 5 per cent pay rise this year and a one time payment of at least £1655 for last year, with 54 per cent voting to reject the deal on a 61 per cent turnout.

The RCN have said nurses working at hospitals run by NHS Somerset Foundation Trust will join the national strikes which are set to begin on April 30 and last for 48 hours.

RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive Pat Cullen said: “What has been offered to date is simply not enough. The government needs to increase what has already been offered and we will be highly critical of any move to reduce it. 

“Since our talks in February, we have seen the pressures on the NHS continue to increase. The crisis in our health and care services cannot be addressed without significant action that addresses urgent recruitment and retention issues and nursing pay to bring this dispute to a close urgently.

“Until there is a significantly improved offer, we are forced back to the picket line. After a historic vote to strike, our members expect a historic pay award.”