RADIOGRAPHERS at Arrowe Park Hospital will join colleagues across the country in strike action as part of an ongoing pay dispute later this month.

The walk-out on Monday, October 20, has been called by the Society of Radiographers (SOR). It follows a ballot in which 53.7% of members voted in favour of strike action. Union members will also work-to-rule for the remainder of that week.

Wirral University Teaching Hospital Trust says it will work with unions to ensure that an "essential and emergency service" is maintained throughout the industrial action.

Richard Evans, SOR'S chief executive, said emergency care will continue to be provided but pre-booked appointments and procedures may be affected.

He added: "Radiographers who work in the NHS in the four countries of the UK will participate.

"There is the possibility of more action by radiographers in the future. The anger that they and other health professionals feel is very strong."

The action is being taken by members of the Society and many other NHS trade unions because of an ongoing pay freeze.

The government rejected a recommended 1% pay rise for the current year and Jeremy Hunt, the health secretary for England, has said that there will be no increase in 2015.

The pay freeze will have been imposed for four out of five years.

Richard Evans continued: "Radiographers will try and keep the effect on patients to a minimum but radiographers and other healthcare workers have got to the stage that they feel there is no alternative.

"Because of inflation, staff in the NHS have been taking a year-on-year pay cut. Unless we show the government that we are serious about our claim that NHS staff should be treated fairly, they will continue to take advantage of our goodwill.

“There is a shortage of radiographers, which already has an effect on the timely delivery of diagnostic examinations and the treatment of cancer, which has direct negative consequences on patients.

“Without reasonable and proper recognition of the work that they do, it is increasingly likely that qualified professionals will leave radiography and it will become even more difficult to recruit the additional people which are needed."

A spokesman for Wirral University Teaching Hospital said: "We are working with trade unions to ensure that an essential and emergency service is maintained in the event of any industrial action."