Radiographers, who perform vital scans on patients, are to take fresh strike action in their long-running dispute over pay.
The Society of Radiographers (SoR) said its members will walk out for 24 hours from 8am on 3 October after talks with the government earlier this month had broken down.
Thousands voted in favour of the action which will take place alongside junior doctors and consultants, who are also striking over pay between 2 and 4 October, with Christmas Day levels of cover.
The strike days also coincide with Rishi Sunak‘s first Tory party conference as leader and prime minister.
One million patients are currently waiting to be seen by a radiographer, often delaying vital diagnosis and treatment for months, said the SoR.
Dean Rogers, the society’s director of industrial strategy, said: “The government’s plans to open new community diagnostic centres and to cut cancer waiting lists all rely on having a strong radiography workforce – which means recruiting and retaining more radiographers.
“In addition to asking for a pay increase, we proposed offering either golden handshakes for new radiographers or a reduced working week for the entire profession – both aimed at improving working conditions for the profession.
“But ministers rejected our proposals outright, refusing even to discuss ways to make the profession more attractive to its current workforce or to new recruits.
“Nothing in the discussion gave us confidence that the government would be willing to move from its current position.
“We didn’t want to find ourselves back here again, but, with regret, we feel we have no choice but to take further strike action.”
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Read more: Behind the strikes: How two women led a million workers into battle
Mr Rogers said taking strike action is never an easy decision.
“This is especially true for radiography professionals, who dedicate themselves to providing the best possible care for patients – despite working long hours for pay that has been falling behind average wages for years,” he said.
Mr Rogers added: “The government agreed to support a 6.5% pay increase for other public sector workers. This only highlights how inadequate and unfair the NHS 5% deal is.
“Radiography professionals should be offered a 6% to 7% increase, in line with other public servants.
“This means making a commitment to ensure pay restoration and provide more for the radiography workforce without delay.”
Next month’s walkout by consultants and junior doctors will be the first joint strike by the two groups in NHS history.
