‘Business as usual at our hospitals’: Trust’s promise as NHS strike action is still planned

The GMB, Unison, Unite, Hospital Consultants and Specialists Association, Royal College of Midwives and UCATT have all agreed to the walkout, due to take place on Monday from 7am to 11am.

The Society of Radiographers will also be taking strike action the followiing Monday, October 20, from 9am to 1pm.

A spokesman for the West Herts Hospitals NHS Trust, covering Hemel Hempstead, Watford and St Albans facilities, said: “This is a national dispute and is in relation to the government’s proposals on NHS pay.

“As you would expect, our overriding priority is to ensure that our services continue to run safely and that the strikes do not compromise the care we provide to our patients and their families.

“As such, we have been working closely with our unions to understand the impact the strikes might have on our hospitals.

“We have developed robust plans for both strikes and anticipate that it will be business as usual across our hospitals on both days – we are not planning to cancel appointments or operations. As such, patients are asked to attend their appointments as normal.

“If we need to cancel appointments, then patients will be contacted directly.”

All seven unions are also encouraging their members to ‘take action short of a strike’ for the four days after their strike, which includes taking full breaks instead of working through them.

More information on how the action will affect nearby health services will be available at www.westhertshospitals.nhs.uk and via Twitter by following @WestHertsNHS.

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