Sir Rod Stewart pays for patients’ scans as he calls for nurses’ wages to rise
Sir Rod Stewart has told Sky News he backs pay rises for nurses and junior doctors while warning against a move towards a US-style healthcare system.
The singer paid for members of the public to have scans at a mobile scanning unit in Essex today, which he pledged to do during a Sky News phone-in about the state of the NHS last month.
Speaking to Sky News presenter Sarah-Jane Mee today, he said: “There must be enough money in the coffers to pay up for these nurses.
‘Demoralised and angry’ junior doctors announce three-day strike – follow live
“Only two years ago we were clapping and now listen – they worked so hard.”
He added that counteroffers made by junior doctors in their negotiations, who have today announced a new wave of strikes, were “reasonable”.
Sir Rod Stewart has called for NHS pay rises
The government is currently holding talks with nursing unions around pay and conditions.
Sir Rod warned: “If we don’t have the NHS, it will be like the United States.
“When you go into an emergency, they say, ‘right, go through your documents’ and it’s unbelievable in America.
“It doesn’t work there either, but I think it’s working better than [it] is here at the moment – we must pull it together.”
Sir Rod, speaking about his pledge to fund scans for members of the public, said: “If this is a big success, and I think it will be, I’d like to do it in Belfast, Dublin, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Manchester and just keep it going.
“I hope some other people follow me because I want to prove I am not all mouth and no trousers – and that’s why I’m here to prove that I’ve followed through.”
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Sir Rod Stewart calls Sky News
When he phoned Sky News last month, he explained he had been to a private clinic on Harley Street in London for his own scan, but had arrived late – only to be told the clinic wasn’t busy anyway.
“I thought, this is a terrible injustice – so here we are.”
One of the patients whose scan was paid for by Sir Rod said his procedure was “much needed”.
Edmund told Sky News: “I’ve been waiting a month, so I had a bit of problem with a sciatic nerve in my back and down my legs, which is the reason I needed help walking around.
“It’s difficult to sleep and various other things, so I’m really pleased for it to be done so we can find out what’s wrong.
“I’m retired now officially, and what have I been paying the last 40 years for? He shouldn’t be having to subsidise it to get the actual MRI scan done.”
Omarie, who also had a scan paid for by Sir Rod, said he “starstruck” by the singer.
He added: “Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I waited for months for the scan… on my knees. It’s amazing. God bless you and God bless him.”
When contacted by Sky News for a response to Sir Rod’s comments, the Department of Health pointed to a joint statement it released with the Royal College of Nursing on Tuesday.
This announced that the two sides had agreed to enter into “intensive talks”, during which strike action by nurses would be paused.
“Both sides are committed to finding a fair and reasonable settlement that recognises the vital role that nurses and nursing play in the National Health Service and the wider economic pressures facing the United Kingdom and the Prime Minister’s priority to halve inflation,” the statement said.
“The talks will focus on pay, terms and conditions, and productivity enhancing reforms.”
Sir Rod also spoke of his support for sending jets to Ukraine, saying: “If I’m going to get political, I think we should send the Ukrainians our F-16s – that’s up to you, prime minister.
“I’ve been supporting them for years – I have a flag and I wear a blue and yellow suit for a song and dedicate it to them.
“And we feel very strongly about it because if the Ukrainians lose, it’s the end of civilization as we know it. You know, it’s all over F-16s”
Weather warnings are in place for snow, wind and rain across much of the UK on New Year’s Day.
The start of 2025 will bring a “multi-hazard storm, combining severe gales, heavy rain and possibly significant snow as the rain runs into cold air,” said Sky News meteorologist Christopher England.
Pic: Met Office
The most significant snowfall on New Year’s Day will be from Donegal, across Northern Ireland and into the north of England and south of Scotland.
The wind looks strongest in the south, Mr England added, where 60mph winds are possible inland and 80mph gusts around the coasts of the Irish Sea.
The stormy weather continues on 2 January, with the Met Office issuing yellow weather warnings across England, Wales and parts of Scotland.
The UK has faced widespread disruption over the last few days, as thick fog descended.
Tens of thousands of passengers had flights delayed or cancelled, while drivers were warned about dangerous conditions with poor visibility.
Revellers are also set for a “wet and rather windy” New Year’s Eve, with the potential for a snowy Hogmanay in Scotland.
There could be some “possibly disruptive weather” on 31 December, Met Office meteorologist Simon Partridge said, with Scotland likely to see the worst of it.
The Met Office issued a yellow weather warning for winds of up to 70mph that may cause travel disruption on New Year’s Eve.
The alert, in place from 7am until 11pm on Tuesday, covers most of Northern Ireland as well as north of York in England up to Glasgow, Edinburgh and Greenock.
The forecaster also warned that delays to transport are likely, with gusts of up to 60mph expected in most areas.
Those affected should check road conditions for driving and the latest travel information as well as preparing for in advance for potential power cuts.
A pensioner who is refusing to leave what’s being branded Britain’s loneliest housing estate has told Sky News he is facing bullying and intimidation tactics to force him out.
Nick Wisniewski’s ex-council flat in Wishaw, North Lanarkshire is set to be demolished because the local authority wants to redevelop the area, which has become a derelict eyesore.
The vast area on the outskirts of Glasgow used to have almost 1,000 properties, but slowly the bulldozers have moved in, creating huge mounds of rubble where homes once stood.
The land is overgrown, with all remaining properties boarded up – apart from the retired bank worker’s home, which demolition teams have been unable to touch as he refuses to budge.
Nick Wisniewski claims he is being bullied to leave his home
Rubble where homes on the estate once stood
‘They’ll basically need to drag me out’
The 68-year-old, whose neighbours were all rehomed in 2023, bought the flat in 2017 under the discounted right-to-buy scheme and is now mortgage-free.
He told Sky News he rejected an initial offer from North Lanarkshire Council of £35,000 plus two year’s rent as it would not be enough to buy a new place.
Contemplating a time in the future when he is forced out, he said: “By law they can smash my door down, they can come in here, manhandle me to get me out. That’s the law, and they’ll basically need to drag me out.”
Asked if he is prepared to go to that length to stop himself being removed, he said: “I am hoping it doesn’t come to that, but if it does then so be it.”
He reveals a compulsory purchase order process is now under way.
A compulsory purchase order is the legal power given to a local council to buy a property without the owner’s consent.
The legal battle will now be resolved by the Scottish government in due course.
There used to be almost a thousand properties on the estate
He said: “It’s been all intimidation, bullying, lies. They offered me £40,000 over a year ago. I thought they’d have offered me a wee bit more. I would accept, probably, £60,000.
“They had a meeting a couple of weeks ago saying that they are starting legal, which means compulsory purchase order.
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“There’s so many stages to that and it’ll take a while for that to come in to force.”
North Lanarkshire Council told Sky News it “completely refutes” any allegations of bullying or intimidation.
A spokesman said: “We are continuing to try and engage with the remaining resident and our focus is on progressing our ambitious plans to transform this area of Gowkthrapple for the benefit of the local community.”
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