Staff at Gloucester and Cheltenham hospitals announce strike over pay
UNISON say specialist healthcare workers there will take part in a 72-hour strike
Last updated 3rd Mar 2025
Specialist healthcare workers who take patient blood samples at hospitals in Gloucester and Cheltenham are taking part in three days of strike action later this month over unfair pay and grading, according to UNISON.
The Union says a majority (97%) of the staff, known as phlebotomists, voted for strike action in an industrial ballot.
They will walk out from midnight on Monday, 17th March.
Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust manage Gloucester Royal Hospital and Cheltenham General Hospital.
UNISON said: "The workers and their union requested that Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust resolve the dispute over a year ago, but the Trust has failed to act.
"The Trust has incorrectly calculated these NHS workers’ pay, leaving them on Band 2 of the NHS Agenda for Change pay scale, despite their skills, knowledge, and the complex nature of their work warranting Band 3 pay.
"The NHS employees are paid just £12.08 an hour despite their expertise and vital role in patient treatment, with some having worked in the NHS for more than two decades.
"But despite telling hospital managers that 37 phlebotomists would take industrial action if the issue wasn’t resolved by the end of last year, the trust failed to act.
"Hospital managers then promised to address the issue by the end of last week but have still failed to resolve the issue."
UNISON South West regional organiser Chris Roche said: "The NHS Trust has had over 12 months to resolve this issue but has repeatedly missed deadlines. Phlebotomists deserve to be paid fairly for the skilled work they do.
"These dedicated staff play a vital role in our national health service. They should be allowed to focus on their patients, rather than worrying about whether they can pay their bills.
"NHS staff want to be at work giving patient care. The trust can still do the right thing to prevent the disruption this strike will cause."
Phlebotomist Caroline Hayhurst said: "I do this job because I love it, but it’s getting harder and harder to pay the bills.
"Few people realise the skills and experience it takes to be a phlebotomist until they need one. We work with patients of all ages, often with complex physical and mental health conditions.
"It’s time our pay and grading reflected the responsibilities of the role."
The Chief Executive for Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Kevin McNamara, said: “We recognise and appreciate the valuable contribution that our phlebotomists make to the care of our patients.
“In response to planned industrial action from midnight on Monday 17 March, contingency planning is underway with the aim of maintaining service continuity as much as possible. We are advising patients to access hospital services in the usual way unless they hear from us directly to advise otherwise.
“We will continue to work closely in partnership with our local union representatives and phlebotomists on resolving this issue."