Members of the Unite Union within our Pathology department are taking further industrial action, this time for five days from 00.01 Monday 9 to 23.59 on Friday 13 March.

 

This will severely impact the capacity for testing in our laboratories to process samples and we apologise to patients for any delays caused.

 

To help maintain patient safety, and to minimise disruption, we are prioritising clinically urgent cases, such as tests for cancer patients and emergency patients needing blood transfusions. If you have not been contacted, please attend your appointment as planned.

Chief Executive, Matthew Trainer, said:

We’re disappointed Unite have called a second strike which will have an adverse impact on our patients.

We need to make changes to the shifts our staff work in pathology because we are one of the few trusts that don’t have a 24/7 service.

We recognise the impact this will have on colleagues who will be affected by this change and we’re willing to offer a level of pay protection that is higher than elsewhere in the NHS.

We’re keen to continue negotiating and we need Unite to agree to provide safe cover. This usually happens during a strike in the NHS to reduce the risk faced by patients.

 

During the five-day strike there will also be less availability for routine blood tests which take place in the community and are sent to our laboratories for testing.

 

We’re working closely with GPs to ensure patients get their results back as quickly as possible. We will also have plans in place for any tests GPs feel are urgent.