A ROMSEY MP has said she has more compassion for nurses compared to rail workers on strike as she urges the government to take action.

Caroline Nokes, MP for Romsey and Southampton North, has spoken up on strike action, declaring that “we can’t afford to have our nurses on out on strike”.

Speaking on Christmas Eve morning to Sky News, Nokes said that the government needs to negotiate with nurses to find a compromise on pay.

The Conservative MP said: “Our nurses do a brilliant job and I’ve been in and out of Southampton General Hospital myself over the last few weeks. I’ve seen first-hand the great work they do and I just want the government to get back around the negotiating table.

“The prime minister indicated that his door is open and that’s important. It’s really about talks on pay, conditions and everything because we can’t afford to have our nurses out on strike.”

READ MORE: South Western Railway train delays: All you need to know for Christmas

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) announced that strikes would take place in England on January 18 and 19 and said additional dates would be confirmed in the new year.

Addressing the rail workers on strike, the Romsey MP added: “Train drivers are significantly better paid than nurses. I think that they deliberately sought to disrupt Christmas, making it very difficult to travel to see relatives.

“It feels like there is a concerted effort by the unions to work together and try to bring down a Conservative government. I have a great deal more compassion for the nurses than I do for the rail unions.”

Rail workers under the RMT union have taken industrial action on December 24, 25 and 26. The union has also announced national strike action from January 3 to 7 affecting South Western trains.