NHS strike comes to a close as ‘work to rule’ action dominates the rest of the week

NHS workers including midwives are resuming work after a four hour strike as part of national disputes on pay.
Midwives on strike outside nearby Stoke Mandeville Hospita in October 2014Midwives on strike outside nearby Stoke Mandeville Hospita in October 2014
Midwives on strike outside nearby Stoke Mandeville Hospita in October 2014

Midwives at nearby Stoke Mandeville Hospital – where many Dacorum parents have their babies delivered – joined health colleagues across the country in the strike, which started at 7am and was due to end at 11am.

The industrial action is the result of a dispute with the government over pay, pensions and unpaid ‘goodwill’ hours and is the first strike in the Royal College of Midwives’ 133 history.

Last week midwife at the Aylesbury hospital – just at the end of the A41 – Nageena Ahmed said midwives ‘get a real slating’.

She said: “We feel like we are easy targets, but we are professional working women and we have to pay the bills too.

“We are fighting for a 1% pay rise, when MPs are getting 11%. For the last three years, our pay has been frozen but our fees (to be on the midwife register) have gone up by 300%.

“Enough is enough.”

A spokesman for the West Herts Hospitals NHS Trust, covering Hemel Hempstead, Watford and St Albans facilities, said it would be ‘business as usual’ during the industrial action. Click here for more.

NHS staff will be carrying out ‘work to rule’ action for the rest of the week, when they will ensure they take full breaks.

The strike was called by the GMB, Unison, Unite, Hospital Consultants and Specialists Association, Royal College of Midwives and UCATT unions.

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