HUNDREDS of health workers across Oxfordshire walked out yesterday in their campaign for better pay.

Members of the Royal College of Midwives went on strike for the first time in its 133-year history.

They were joined on the picket lines by receptionists, ambulance staff, occupational therapists and others.

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust said that patient care had not been at risk during the strike.

But it would not reveal how many staff stopped working; how many, if any operations were cancelled and numbers of any temporary staff brought in and their cost.

Our top stories

Hospital and ambulance service workers took to picket lines across the county between 7am to 11am.

Oxford Mail:

Staff on strike outside the Horton General Hospital, Banbury

Unison steward Susan Parkinson, a cardiac care medical secretary at the JR, said: “People have had to go to food banks. That is a sign of the times. They are on a wage that they can’t afford to live on.”

Midwifery JR team leader Katriona Cusick, 50, of Saxon Way said: “It is about being appreciated. I’m glad it has happened but it is really sad. I would rather be upstairs helping a woman with her labour.”

As well as midwives, strike action included members of Unison, Unite, UCATT, GMB and British Association of Occupational Therapists.

Occupational therapist Clare Coles, 31, said: “We are just sick and tired of not getting a fair pay for the job that we do, particularly in Oxford where the cost of living is so high.”

Oxford Unite treasurer Jimmy Nichol estimated 200 to 300 people across the county had taken part.

Cars honked in support of pickets at Oxford’s John Radcliffe, Churchill and Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre and Horton General hospitals.

Union members who play a role in providing emergency cover continued to do so over the strike period.

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust director of organisational development and workforce Mark Power said: “Appropriate mitigating actions were taken to minimise any adverse impact on patient services.”

Patient safety had “not been compromised,” Mr Power said, but did not provide details of the “mitigating actions.”

As well as Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital, picket lines also included Warneford, Littlemore and Abingdon hospitals.

The sites are run by Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, which employs about 5,500 people in five counties, including Oxfordshire.

Spokesman Chris Kearney said about 50 of its staff took part and action “had minimal impact on our services as measures were put in place”.

South Central Ambulance Service – which covers four countries – said 77 of its 2,800 staff took part. It said: “SCAS had contingency plans to ensure patient safety.”

The strike followed the Government’s refusal to follow the recommendation of an independent pay review board of a one per cent increase for all.

Instead only staff without automatic pay rises got a one per cent rise this financial year.

VIEWS

Oxford Mail:

‘I do think the nurses get a raw deal. They all work hard. It is the rising cost of living and their wages aren’t keep up.’
Gillian Salt, 52, a teaching assistant of Banbury Road, Bicester  

Oxford Mail:

‘I think the whole thing is unfortunate. (If) you go on strike, you might as well go for more money. This is pathetic.’
Angela Scott, 67, of Cirencester, Gloucestershire 

Oxford Mail:

‘They are over-worked, under-paid and bosses are getting the pay, the Government are having their rises but not nurses, the people that matter.’
Mavis Moon, 65, of Adderbury, North Oxfordshire

 

  • Do you want alerts delivered straight to your phone via our WhatsApp service? Text NEWS or SPORT or NEWS AND SPORT, depending on which services you want, and your full name to 07767 417704. Save our number into your phone’s contacts as Oxford Mail WhatsApp and ensure you have WhatsApp installed.