Members of the Society and College of Radiographers are on strike for 24 hours from 8am today at the Royal Devon NHS Trust alongside colleagues across the country.
They are joining consultants and junior doctors, who are holding a combined three day strike which began yesterday at 7am and runs until Thursday morning.
This is the first time radiographers, consultants and junior doctors have taken strike action together.
The industrial action is part of an ongoing national dispute between the government and health service unions about pay and employment conditions.
The strikes are taking place in the final week of a government consultation on its plans to impose new regulations which would allow employers to compel doctors and nurses to work during industrial action under threat of dismissal.
The Conservative Party conference is also taking place in Manchester.
Dean Rogers of the Society and College of Radiographers said: “Taking strike action is never an easy decision”, adding that radiographers’ pay has been falling behind average wages for many years.
He said: “If the government wants to reduce NHS waiting lists and ensure that patients receive the treatment they need, when they need it, then it must urgently prioritise the recruitment and retention of radiography professionals.
“But ministers persist in saying that they cannot offer us anything more - after the government failed to offer a solution to the current recruitment and retention crisis. Therefore, we are left with no choice but to take further strike action.”
The British Medical Association (BMA), the professional association and trade union that represents UK doctors, has invited ministers to ACAS-facilitated talks in order to resolve the dispute with its members.
However the government has previously ignored invitations to use ACAS to broker an agreement and the health secretary has refused to meet BMA representatives for 190 days.
NHS advice is to attend planned appointments during the strikes as normal unless you have been informed otherwise, and to refrain from calling to confirm your appointment is taking place.
Dr Nigel Acheson, Chief Medical Officer for NHS Devon, said: “Teams across the NHS in Devon are doing their best to prepare for the upcoming industrial action but these strikes are set to be the most difficult yet in terms of impact on the day-to-day running of our services and on patients.
He added: “People suffering a life-threatening emergency should not hesitate to contact 999 or attend one of our emergency departments.
“However, I ask everyone else to carefully consider which service could help them best during the strike periods. 111 online is available for advice and your own GP or local pharmacy will be able to provide a range of other care.”
