As further strikes take place across the country this week, the Royal College of Nursing has threatened its biggest walkout in England next month unless talks with the government progress soon.
At the same time, Labour leader Sir Kier Starmer has warned the NHS will “die” without drastic change.

But it’s not just industrial action in the health service the government is up against; teachers plan to walk out in February too and rows across the transport network are among those ongoing.
Is there a way forward to end strikes across different areas of the public sector? And do unions think Labour have a better plan for the health service?

On this edition of the Sophy Ridge on Sunday podcast, interviews with transport secretary Mark Harper, Labour’s shadow Northern Ireland secretary Peter Kyle and chair of the British Medical Association, Dr Philip Banfield – plus, analysis with Sky’s political correspondent Liz Bates and show editor Scott Beasley.

Also, Sophy interviews Ukrainian MP Lesia Vasylenko after a deadly missile attack in Dnipro, a city in central Ukraine.

Annie Joyce – senior podcast producer
Dave Terris - editor