UK National Health Service Strikes, 2022
APPROXIMATE COMMITTEE SIZE: 15-20 DELEGATES (SINGLe-Delegation)
On December 15, 2022, nurses across the United Kingdom walked out of hospitals in picket lines, demanding a 19% national pay increase and a response from the British government to nationwide NHS staffing shortages. The strike occurred amid an NHS funding crisis and a period of record-high inflation in the UK that had already caused railway, airport, and ambulance workers to schedule walkouts in the following weeks. The crisis, exacerbated by economic decline and pandemic effects, challenges the UK's pride in its universal healthcare system. Although nurses continue to staff the most vital hospital wards, the public is growing anxious, especially as junior doctors are also beginning to demand higher wages in response to inflation and declining working conditions, leading to increased burnout among physicians. With additional walkouts scheduled and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak refusing to oblige with the demands of the UK nursing union, Royal College of Nurses, tensions only seem to be growing, and it appears that the NHS is on the verge of collapse.
COMMITTEE DETAILS
This committee will consist of NHS officials, the Prime Minister, cabinet members, union leaders, journalists, and members of the public. Delegates must collaborate to resolve the strikes and consider potential reforms to the NHS, prioritizing the safety of the British people. They will need to respond to crisis updates, including developments related to the strikes, press releases, and decisions made in the British Parliament.
CHAIR: emma hu
ABOUT THE CHAIR
Emma Hu is a member of Georgetown University's Walsh School of Foreign Service Class of 2027, majoring in International Politics and concentrating in International Law, Ethics, and Institutions. She is from McLean, Virginia (20 minutes away from DC) and has been a DMV local for seven years; before that, she was raised in Shanghai, China. On campus, Emma serves as the Director of Outreach for the Georgetown International Relations Association (GIRA)’s local project, helping with DistrictMUN’s sister community programs such as the SDG Summit. This is her second time working with DistrictMUN, and outside of this she also works as a crisis manager for NCSC and NAIMUN, Georgetown’s college and high school Model UN conference. Outside of MUN, Emma enjoys playing card games with friends, updating her K-pop playlist, and waiting for the next Arsenal game (COYG!). She hopes that you have a fun experience with us!
CM: Caroline Sippel
ABOUT THE CRISIS MANAGER
Caroline Sippel is a member of the Walsh School of Foreign Service class of 2027, with a major in Culture and Politics, concentrating on the Intersectionality of People and Government, and a minor in Public Health. She is originally from St. Louis, Missouri, but currently lives in Reston, Virginia. She is a first-time DistrictMUN staffer, but she has served as the Under-Secretary-General of Historical Crisis for NAIMUN LXII, Georgetown’s conference for high school students, as well as a staffer for NAIMUN LXI, and NCSC LX and NCSC LXI, Georgetown’s collegiate conference. Caroline and Mahika, a fellow DistrictMUN staffer, are the co-leads of WOMUN, Georgetown’s affinity group for women and gender non-conforming folks in international relations. Caroline is also a member of Kappa Alpha Theta, a host on Georgetown's radio station, a member of Georgetown’s Rocky Horror Picture Show, and a lifeguard for the on-campus pool. Her greatest passions are iced tea, rock music, and her dog. Caroline is looking forward to meeting everyone at DictrictMUN and making the backroom as fun as possible!