Scotland's nurses have threatened to go on strike if Nicola Sturgeon does not approve a 10 per cent pay rise amid warnings of a “summer of discontent” that could cripple public services.

       The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) warned that chronic staff shortages driven by "demoralised, overworked and underpaid" members leaving the NHS was now putting patients at risk.

       Nurses have joined teachers, train drivers, police officers and council workers in demanding wage increases to help offset the surge in inflation - which is predicted to reach 10 per cent by October.

       Colin Poolman, the RCN director, warned the First Minister and Health Secretary Humza Yousaf: "Don't take nurses for granted - because they can show their strength."

       He told the Scottish Mail on Sunday that Scottish nurses were "getting to the same place" as their colleagues in Northern Ireland, where RCN members went on strike in 2019 for the first time in the union's history.

       Worrying staffing levels

       A report from the RCN at its annual conference in Glasgow on Monday shows that more than 80 per cent of the 20,000 nurses surveyed said staffing levels on their shifts have not met the needs of their patients.

       In a keynote address to 2,000 of its members, the RCN's chief executive, Pat Cullen, will say staff are quitting because they have "lost hope" after years of failure from the SNP.

       Ms Cullen is expected to say: "Staff are overworked, underpaid, and safe staffing legislation, passed unanimously by the parliament in 2019, has still not been implemented.

       "To those from Government listening to my words - we have had enough. The patients and those we care for have had enough."

       Scottish Labour health spokesperson Jackie Baillie said the "neglect of our NHS" has been the root cause of a crisis in the health service.

       Despite SNP pledges to boost capacity, waiting lists for tests and operations have spiralled since the pandemic.

       Long waiting lists

       As of March, one in eight Scots was on a waiting list for some form of hospital treatment.

       Ms Baillie said: "Despite being in power for 15 years, this SNP Government has slashed bed numbers, failed to tackle delayed discharge and entirely failed our nursing profession."

       There are currently 6,600 nursing vacancies in the NHS, she added.

       The Scottish Government said it was "currently discussing a pay deal which will be backdated to April 1.

       A spokesman said they have recruited more than 1,000 additional healthcare support staff and almost 200 registered nurses from overseas to help address the "unprecedented" challenges facing the NHS.

       Railway workers and teachers

       Meanwhile, the bank holiday plans of many rail passengers were left in disarray on Sunday as ScotRail cancelled 50 per cent of its services after train drivers rejected a 4.2 per cent pay offer from the Government.

       The newly nationalised rail operator has cut its services by one third in total during its dispute with the union Aslef.

       Aslef's Scottish organiser Kevin Lindsay has threatened one-day strikes if they do not receive an improved offer in the new round of talks today.

       Teachers are also considering strike action this autumn with the Educational Institute of Scotland, which represents 55,000 staff, if they do not receive a 10 per cent pay rise.

       Binmen, cleaners and local government workers have demanded a 35-hour working week and a ￡12 a hour minimum wage.

       Kate Forbes, the SNP finance secretary, has said she wants public sector workers to have “fair” pay rises but has warned there are limited funds for salary increases.