A Union has promised patients will not be put at risk when nurses strike at a hospital that has struggled to deal with high levels of admissions in recent weeks.

A walk-out at Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow is planned between 9am and 5pm, with union UNSON saying nurses are struggling to put food on the table due to the government’s refusal to offer a one per cent pay rise.

The union said plans are in place to ensure patients are properly cared for at the hospital, where earlier this month the trust said there had been an “unprecedented volume” of seriously ill people had been admitted.

The strike, which is also supported by bodies including the Royal College of Midwives, union Unite and the Society of Radiographers, is part of a national day of action the long-running pay dispute.

In a statement UNISON said: “With the Department of Health now considering scrapping weekend enhancements, the situation is getting critical, and other healthcare unions are also involved in this dispute, including the Royal College of Midwives, Unite and the Society of Radiographers. “

“While some of our members struggle to put food on the table each month, the House of Lords has refused to cut its taxpayer-funded champagne bill.”

Last week, Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said: "The public will find it hard to understand why unions are taking this action when services are under pressure."