TWO 24-hour national strikes by staff at NHS Logistics were announced yesterday, after the workers voted 3-1 for action against the government’s plans to sell-off the hospital and GP surgery supplies service to parcel firm DHL.
It will be the first national strike action in the NHS for 18 years.
The first 24-hour strike will run from 10pm on Thursday September 21, the second day will be announced next week and subsequent action later, if the privatisation by the government is not halted.
UNISON, Britain’s biggest public service union, warned that privatisation of NHS Logistics would be a disaster for the NHS.
UNISON Head of Health Karen Jennings said: ‘Our members at the five NHS Logistics depots voted overwhelmingly for the strike action.
‘They have a very strong sense of loyalty to the NHS and have worked hard to make NHS Logistics a highly competitive, innovative NHS service.
‘Last year it delivered savings to Trusts of £2.8 million – cash that can be ploughed back into front-line services.
‘NHS Logistics has a fantastic track record on innovation and awards for efficiency.
‘There can be absolutely no justification for privatising this service.’
NHS Logistics employs more than 1,000 staff operating from distribution centres throughout England, at Alfreton in Derbyshire, Runcorn in Cheshire, Normanton in West Yorkshire, Maidstone in Kent and Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk.
Seventy-four per cent of UNISON members who voted in a ballot backed strike action.
The service supplies over 43,000 lines of products, including syringes, bandages, medical equipment and food.
It faces privatisation on October 1.
Jennings added: ‘We’re taking every avenue, every process possible to try and stop what we think is a very destructive move by this government.’
UNISON said plans would be put in place to maintain the supply of emergency life-saving equipment during the strike.
Meanwhile, Rochdale Infirmary Accident and Emergency department is facing closure.
The hospital in Greater Manchester will see its A&E unit replaced with an ‘urgent care centre’, under plans agreed by a joint committee of Primary Care Trusts.
The decision will be confirmed or rejected in December, after further consultation.
Rochdale is to become a ‘locality hospital’, with medical, dental, mental health and social services provided on one site.
The changes, if confirmed, will mean Rochdale patients needing life-saving emergency treatment will have to go to Fairfield Hospital in Bury, the Royal Oldham or North Manchester General Hospital.
