PATIENTS have been assured no appointments or operations will be postponed during a health workers’ strike.

Jo Cubbon, chief executive at Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton, has promised it will be business as usual if any staff take industrial action.

The Royal College of Midwives has joined the UNISON and Unite unions in calling the walkout over pay from 7am to 11am on Monday, October 13, and a refusal to work more than their alloted 37½ hours that week.

“Our patients won’t be affected at all,” said Ms Cubbon.

“No consultations or appointments will be cancelled.

“We’re working to ensure we have the appropriate staff in the hospital.”

She added that a relatively small number of workers belong to the three striking unions, with most in the Royal College of Nursing, which is not involved in the action.

Ms Cubbon said she understood the reasons why some healthcare workers wanted to strike.

“I believe in a democratic society – everybody must have the ability to have their say,” she said.

“I understand public sector workers haven’t had huge increases over the last few years, so I appreciate and understand there will be a number of our staff who will want to support whatever action their unions’ resultions come to.”

The unions are angry that the Government has ignored the pay review body’s recommended 1% pay rise and instead put on the table a 1% payment for some staff that would not be carried forward to next year.

Helen Eccles, UNISON’s regional head of health, said: “Tens of thousands of UNISON members across the South-West have told us they will undertake industrial action because they haven’t had a pay rise in four years, the gap between pay and bills is getting bigger and they are really struggling to make ends meet.”