CLINICAL support workers at Wirral University Teaching Hospital (WUTH) are to strike for an additional two weeks in a dispute over pay.

The latest action will begin a week next Monday (November 6) and continue until Monday, November 20. It will be their fifth round of action and the longest strike to date.

The announcement comes as the workers, who assist nursing staff in patient care, start another five days of action today (Monday, October 23). The current strike ends this coming Saturday (October 28). 

Staff involved in the dispute are employed across the trust’s sites at Arrowe Park and Clatterbridge hospitals. Union Unison has said they should be paid “at least” £2,000 more each year for performing duties and tasks “well above” their pay grade. 

NHS policy states that clinical support workers on a low-pay band should only be providing personal care including helping patients go to the toilet, bathing, and feeding. 

A Unison survey found most of those on band 2 at the hospitals are routinely undertaking clinical tasks such as taking and monitoring blood, performing electrocardiogram tests and inserting cannulas.

The union said these duties should be paid to “at least” a band 3 salary, according to the NHS’s job profiles, which is nearly £2,000 a year more.   

Unison North West regional organiser David McKnight said: “Wirral's clinical support workers are increasingly frustrated at their trust’s unwillingness to do the right thing.

“They've seen colleagues at East Cheshire and Mid Cheshire trusts get an offer to April 2018 without the need for any strike action. Wirral’s refusal to settle is only making workers more determined to carry on their fight for fair pay. 

“Clinical support workers have proudly served the trust and the Wirral community for years. Many have worked above their pay band for far beyond the date they’re asking for.

“They feel disrespected and unvalued. The community, patients and other staff at the trust have been overwhelmingly supportive. 

“The strike won’t stop until justice is won. The longer this goes on, the more determined we get. They need to do what's right in order to not permanently damage their relationship with their own workforce."

A spokesperson for Wirral University Teaching Hospital said: “When this issue was raised in May 2023, the Trust immediately pledged our commitment to ensuring our Clinical Support Workers (CSWs) are paid the right banding for the work we are asking them to do. The work to deliver our pledge has started. 

“We also made an initial offer in relation to back pay in line with work previously undertaken in the Trust. This work was undertaken in partnership with staff side. However, that offer was rejected by UNISON. 

“Unfortunately, a second offer, which was based on an offer accepted by UNISON in another NHS Trust, was also rejected. 

“We are disappointed that UNISON have refused to put either offer to our staff for a vote prior to rejecting them. 

“We have consistently stated that we want to work in partnership with UNISON to reach an agreement on this matter and end the dispute. We continue to be open to those discussions. 

“We have plans in place to ensure patient safety is maintained during strike action, and patients are advised to attend their hospital appointment as normal unless they are contacted directly."