NHS staff including midwives, nurses, and ambulance staff staged a four-hour strike as part of an ongoing pay. 

Dozens of members from Unite, UNISON, the GMB and other unions protested outside Whipps Cross Hospital this morning between 7am and 11am. 

Today was the first time staff from the radiography department had walked out over the government's decision not to implement a one per cent rise for all staff as recommended by a pay review body.

Members waved placards and chanted, "give us what the MPs got, one per cent, we say not". 

Occupational therapist Sam Strudwick at Whipps Cross Hospital was at the picket line.

She said: "I am sick to death of this government treating us like dirt, that we don't even deserve one per cent. 

"We spend our time caring for patients and we work overtime to make sure that patients do not suffer.

"We've had to see more money go into our pensions, we've seen lots of nurses, physios, and care support workers had their wages downbanded. 

"This fight is not just about the one per cent pay rise, we are here to fight to keep the NHS public because we fear the government want to privatise it."

This is the second consecutive strike by NHS workers since the last industrial action across the UK on October 13. 

Head of health for UNISON Christina McAnea, said: "For many in the NHS, last month’s strike was a first. 

"The next industrial action will be bigger as more unions will be joining it. 

"NHS workers are overworked and underpaid. 

"Most patients would be shocked to know that one in five of the NHS workers need to do a second job just to survive and many have to borrow money every month to make ends meet or resort to foodbanks."

The police and armed forces were called in to assist London Ambulance Service with the Metropolitan Police assigning 150 officers to drive or crew ambulances.   

Ambulances were seen stationed at the Army Reserve centre in Lea Bridge Road, Walthamstow. 

 

A spokeswoman for the Department of Health said: "NHS staff are our greatest asset and we want to make the current pay system fairer - which is why we have put forward proposals that would guarantee all staff would get at least a one per cent pay rise this year and next, but these have been rejected by the unions.

"We have taken tough decisions to increase the NHS budget, but we can't afford a consolidated pay rise in addition to increments without risking 10,000 frontline jobs."