NHS Brace for 48-Hour Radiographer Strike Over Pay
Parts of England face major NHS delays as radiographers prepare a 48-hour strike over pay disputes. The Society of Radiographers (SoR) has confirmed the walkout, warning staff shortages and poor recruitment mean vital x-rays, scans, and cancer treatments could be hit hard.
Strike Set for Late July at 43 NHS Trusts
The walkout is set to start at 8am on 25 July and run until 8am on 27 July. It will affect 43 NHS trusts, including big names like University College London Hospitals, the Royal Marsden, Liverpool and nottingham/" title="Nottingham" data-wpil-keyword-link="linked">Nottingham University Hospitals, and Bristol. Emergency cover at bank holiday levels will be maintained for “life and limb” cases.
Union members rejected the government’s 5% pay rise plus a one-off lump sum for 2022-23, spurring the strike vote. While most trusts saw a majority backing the strike, some didn’t reach the minimum turnout threshold. The SoR has already sent official strike notices to all affected trusts.
Radiographer Shortage Sparks Patient Backlog
Radiographers are crucial for diagnosing illness and cancer treatment, performing scans like x-rays and MRIs, plus radiotherapy. But the SoR says there aren’t enough staff. Around one million patients are currently waiting to see a radiographer. The union warns the shortage risks growing if pay and working conditions don’t improve.
Union Demands Urgent Pay Talks, Government Stalls
“Strike action is a last resort, but members feel they have no alternative,” said Dean Rogers, SoR’s executive director of industrial strategy and member relations.
The union has called on the government to urgently improve pay and conditions. They want a full pay review, more funding to recruit and keep staff, and better working environments. Despite raising these issues, talks reportedly stalled when industrial action was threatened. The union says the government’s new workforce plan focuses too much on the future and ignores the current crisis.
The SoR warns that without immediate action, NHS waiting lists and patient care will worsen. Both sides now hope to find a deal before the strike unfolds in late July.
