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| NHS staff out in national strike | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Hundreds of NHS staff have gone on strike, in the first national walkout in the health service for 18 years. | |
| Members of the public sector union, Unison, who work for the delivery arm of the health service in England, are angry their jobs are being privatised. | |
| The supply agency NHS Logistics is due to be handed over to German transport company DHL from the start of October. | |
| But staff are hoping their 24-hour strike will prompt a last minute U-turn over the sell off from the government. | |
| There are fears the walkout may leave hospitals and doctors' surgeries 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 | 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. | 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." | 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. | 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. |