Peter Lazenby
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HOSPITAL radiographers are to walk out on strike tomorrow, becoming the latest group of NHS specialists to take action in defence of their pay, jobs and the health service.
The Society of Radiographers (SoR), which has more than 28,000 members and is affiliated to the TUC, were on picket lines at 35 NHS trusts in England and will stay out for 48 hours.
The SoR said emergency cover is being provided.
The trusts include the Royal Marsden cancer hospital in London, University College London Hospitals, Liverpool University Hospitals, Nottingham University Hospitals, University Hospitals Bristol and Weston and Sheffield Teaching Hospitals.
The radiographers’ work includes carrying out X-rays, MRI and CT scans, ultrasounds, breast screening and cancer radiotherapy treatment.
They rejected a below-inflation 5 per cent pay increase in June. Inflation in Britain currently sits ar 7.9 per cent.
Their union has warned that “worrying numbers of staff” are leaving the profession and not enough is being done to recruit more workers.
Dean Rogers, SoR executive director of industrial strategy and member relations, said: “Voting for strike action was a difficult decision for our members, who care above all about the safety and wellbeing of their patients.
“We need to draw attention to the fact that many radiography professionals are feeling burnt out by low pay and increased hours. They’re leaving the NHS, and they are not being replaced in adequate numbers.
“If the government wants to reduce NHS waiting lists and ensure that patients receive the treatment they need, when they need it, then it must urgently prioritise the recruitment and retention of radiography professionals — and that means talking to us about pay and conditions.
“But they are refusing to talk to us, even though our door is open.
“Our members deserve better. Our patients deserve better.”
Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said that he wanted to see an end to strikes by NHS workers and said that a 5 per cent pay rise and one-off payments of £1,655 were “reasonable.”
He also said that the government had published a long-term workforce plan for the NHS.
The NHS is short of 140,000 workers, including 48,000 nurses.
