THOUSANDS of health workers are expected to walk out for four hours on Monday in a continuing row over pay.

Trade unions GMB, Unison and Unite have confirmed their members, which will include paramedics, nurses and midwives, will be taking part in the national industrial action from 7am to 11am.

The strike has been called in response to the government’s refusal to give all NHS staff a 1% pay rise – despite being recommended following an independent pay review.

It follows a strike last month, when thousands took place in mass demonstrations outside Arrowe Park Hospital and Clatterbridge Hospital.

A spokesman for Wirral NHS University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust said "We have robust contingency plans for the protection of patient safety and care in the event of disruptions which could impact on service provision. 

“These include plans for industrial action and it has been agreed with the relative trade union organisations that critical posts will be exempt from taking action.”

Anne McAleer, welfare worker for Unison, was just one of those striking outside Clatterbridge last month.

She told the Globe staff have not had a pay rise for four years.

"Everybody is in dire straits with bills and mortgages. We want a fair pay for a fair day's work which we haven't got at the moment.

"If somebody is ill you don't get a break or your lunch - it's all part of the job and we don't have any help from the Government."

Another member of staff, who did not wish to be named, said workers do not want to strike but feel they have no choice.

She said: "We are saving lives and we just feel as though we are getting trodden on all the time."

At Arrowe Park Hospital, Unison branch secretary and midwife Carol Skillem said: "For midwives to feel as strongly as we do to come out and strike says a lot - we are making sure the service here is safe and secure for patients."

Trade unions want a 1% pay rise for all NHS staff, but the government has said the proposal would cost too much.

Carol added: "The Government have ignored the recommendations of the Pay Review Board for a 1% pay rise but they said they had to take the recommendations when it was them.

"All of the staff in the health service deserve proper recognition for the work that they do.

"They are underpaid, undervalued, they work long hours, they don't take their lunches and they stay after their time and that's not recognised and it should be."

A spokesman for Unite said: “Unite members working in the NHS will step up their fight for fair NHS pay with a further four-hour strike on Monday 24 November. 

“Thousands of NHS workers took to picket lines at hospitals across England on October 13, behind a swell of public support, to protest against the government’s refusal to implement a tiny 1% consolidated pay increase to all NHS staff.”

A North West Ambulance Service spokesman said exemptions will be made for all life-threatening and potentially life-threatening calls and if a major incident occurs.

Derek Cartwright, director of operations, said: “The Trust is exploring all avenues to maintain as much of the service as possible and volunteer and private agencies such as Red Cross, St John’s Ambulance and mountain rescue teams are in discussions with NWAS with regard to how they will be available to respond to patients during the strike.

“We would always ask patients to consider this advice but it is especially important that, during the hours of the strike, the public only call us for urgent life-threatening emergencies.

"With a possible reduced workforce, it is imperative that ambulances and crews are available for those with critical conditions and the public’s help in this would be greatly appreciated."