Hospital workers suspend strike after talks offer

A strike involving operating theatre staff at four Greater Manchester hospitals has been called off after NHS bosses agreed to fresh talks.

The UNISON union said the strike by more than 350 workers planned for Monday 14 September will not go ahead after discussions with the Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust (NCA).

However, it said workers - including nurses, clinical support workers and housekeepers - will still walk out on Tuesday and Thursday next week unless there is "significant progress".

The NCA said it was "committed to constructive discussions" and had agreed to a meeting with UNISON on Friday, but had "contingency plans" in the event of strikes.

The strikes, which relate to a dispute around overtime payments, are due to take place at Salford Royal Hospital, Royal Oldham Hospital, Rochdale Infirmary and Fairfield General Hospital in Bury.

They follow previous strikes in June and August.

UNISON said the row centres on the use of an outside agency called NHS Professionals to manage overtime.

It said staff can earn less than they would on a normal shift, with some missing out on as much as £80.

UNISON said negotiations with the trust had stalled, and claimed NCA trust managers had "rejected offers" to return to the table until yesterday.

UNISON North West regional organiser Kevin Dolan said: "This breakthrough is testament to workers in the theatre department.

"They've stood firm and continued to deliver a high-class service while under significant pressure."

Dolan said staff were not "asking for special treatment".

"They just want to be paid the overtime rates they signed up for," he said.

Gertie Nic Philib, chief people and strategy officer at the Northern Care Alliance, told the BBC the trust was "deeply sorry" for any disruption to patient care caused by industrial action.

"We will do everything we can to minimise the impact on patients and maintain high standards of care and quality at all times," she said.

"We also have contingency plans in place for emergency situations."

Philib said the trust was "committed" to finding a "fair and sustainable resolution" while maintaining patient safety.

"We are planning on meeting with UNISON on Friday to try to find an agreement and we are hopeful of finding a resolution that can minimise disruption to patient care and delays to treatment," she added.

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