Thousands of radiographers are to go on strike in England, piling further pressure on hospitals shortly after junior and senior doctors finish their industrial action.
Hospitals will contend with significant disruption from 13 July, when junior doctors will stage a five-day stoppage, the longest in NHS history. They will be followed two days later by their consultant colleagues, between 20 and 22 July.
The Society of Radiographers announced on Friday it would launch a two-day strike from 8am on 25 July until 8am on 27 July in NHS trusts where union members voted in favour.
Representatives from each trust will work with employers to provide life-and-limb cover for patients, which usually consists of the same staffing levels as on a bank holiday.
Junior doctors in Scotland called off next week’s strikes after the Scottish government offered them an improved 12.4% pay rise.
In England, Dean Rogers, the executive director of industrial strategy and member relations for the Society of Radiographers (SoR), said: “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. Our members deserve better. Our patients deserve better.”
He said the strike was intended to encourage the government to enter “meaningful discussions” around low pay and long hours. After the strong vote for strike action announced last week, the union was invited to a meeting with the health minister Will Quince, which produced “no concrete proposals”, he said.
Quince said: “They have now indicated they will not talk to the SoR any further while industrial action is proposed – something we find regrettable for staff, patients and future industrial relations. Strike action is a last resort. But our members believe they have no alternative, because the government won’t take the action needed to address their concerns.”
Nine out of 10 patients in the NHS are supported by a radiography professional – they are responsible for carrying out X-rays, MRI and CT scans, ultrasounds and breast screening, as well as radiotherapy for cancer patients.
But the SoR says too few radiographers are being recruited or retained. Many are leaving the profession because of burnout, and low pay is making it harder to attract new candidates, resulting in a million patients waiting to be seen by a radiographer.
Hospital leaders are said to be dreading the latest wave of strikes. Sir Julian Hartley, the chief executive of NHS Providers, has previously said the double doctors’ strike was a “a huge risk for the NHS to manage”.
The Scottish government’s offer of a 12.4% pay rise came after “intense negotiations”. The government also said it would guarantee a minimum pay uplift of inflation every year for three years and made a commitment to renegotiate contracts to improve working and training conditions.
