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| NHS staff 'hoping for reprieve' | |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Health workers are hoping their strike will prompt a last minute U-turn over the sell off of the NHS supply agency. | |
| NHS Logistics staff are due to take part in the first national walkout in the health service for 18 years from 2200 BST on Thursday. | |
| The supply operation is due to be handed over to delivery firm DHL from the start of October. | |
| But public sector union Unison said it was still hoping the government would have a change of heart. | |
| There are fears the walkout may leave hospitals short of equipment, but ministers say the effect will be minimal. | |
| A second strike is due on 26 September with more action to follow. | A second strike is due on 26 September with more action to follow. |
| This is a privatisation too far. There is always hope that the situation will change Unison spokeswoman | |
| About 900 staff were balloted by Unison and of the 66% who voted, 74% backed a strike. | About 900 staff were balloted by Unison and of the 66% who voted, 74% backed a strike. |
| NHS Logistics supplies about 50,000 lines of products, including bedpans, latex gloves, syringes, bandages, medical equipment and food. | NHS Logistics supplies about 50,000 lines of products, including bedpans, latex gloves, syringes, bandages, medical equipment and food. |
| Hospitals have to order equipment three days ahead and have limited space to store stockpiles. | Hospitals have to order equipment three days ahead and have limited space to store stockpiles. |
| The workers, who supply hospitals and GP surgeries in England, are based at distribution centres at Alfreton in Derbyshire, Runcorn in Cheshire, Normanton in West Yorkshire, Maidstone in Kent and Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk. | The workers, who supply hospitals and GP surgeries in England, are based at distribution centres at Alfreton in Derbyshire, Runcorn in Cheshire, Normanton in West Yorkshire, Maidstone in Kent and Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk. |
| Emergency plans | Emergency plans |
| Unison said there was no justification for privatising the agency and has issued proceedings for a judicial review of the sell-off this month. | |
| Ahead of the start of the strike, a spokeswoman said: "This is a privatisation too far. There is always hope that the situation will change and the workers are going on strike to demonstrate their anger and disappointment at the move." | |
| The union has agreed emergency plans to cover life-saving equipment during the strike. | The union has agreed emergency plans to cover life-saving equipment during the strike. |
| The government said the deal will help save £1bn over 10 years. | |
| Health Minister Andy Burnham said he expected the strikes would have minimal disruption to hospitals and said patients should not be unduly worried. | Health Minister Andy Burnham said he expected the strikes would have minimal disruption to hospitals and said patients should not be unduly worried. |
| He added: "We will keep an extremely close eye on the situation." | He added: "We will keep an extremely close eye on the situation." |
| The most recent major health service strike was when midwives were involved in a pay dispute in 1988. | The most recent major health service strike was when midwives were involved in a pay dispute in 1988. |