Radiographers begin two-day walkout over pay and staffing

Radiographers held placards reading ‘worked to the bone’ as they kicked off a two-day strike on Tuesday morning.

Thousands of Society of Radiographers (SoR) members across 37 NHS trusts are forming picket lines amid a row with the government over pay, recruitment and retention.

Union members voted to reject a 5 per cent pay award offered by ministers and called for talks to reopen after other public sector workers were offered a higher sum.

The government said its pay offer, combined with one-off payments totalling at least £1,655, is “reasonable”.

Society of Radiographers strike July 2023 BRI – photo by Betty Woolerton

Nick Lowry said the situation for NHS radiographers, who perform vital scans on patients, was “dire”.

“We are really struggling to fill our roles, which is mirrored across the whole country especially,” said the therapeutic radiographer.

“It’s especially bad in Bristol because it’s such an expensive city to live in.”

“This is coming from years of the government kicking the can down the road in terms of pay.”

Lowry added: “I think everybody in Bristol and in the country loves the NHS, and we want that to keep going.”

“But the government does need to actually negotiate.”

Dean Rogers, SoR executive director of industrial strategy and member relations, 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 – and that means talking to us about pay and conditions.

“But they are refusing to talk to us, even though our door is open.

“Our members deserve better. Our patients deserve better.”

Radiographers are currently out in force at the BRI as they begin a two-day strike over pay, recruitment and retention ?? pic.twitter.com/rOQiTAWTIz

— Betty Woolerton (@bettywoolerton) July 25, 2023

Steve Barclay, health secretary, said the pay award for radiographers was final.

“I want to see an end to disruptive strikes so the NHS can focus relentlessly on cutting waiting lists and delivering for patients,” he said.

“The majority of unions on the NHS staff council voted to accept the government’s fair and reasonable offer of a 5 per cent pay rise for 2023-24, alongside two significant one-off payments totalling at least £1,655, putting more money in their pockets now.

“Over a million NHS staff, including radiographers, are already benefiting from that pay rise.

“The NHS also recently published the first ever NHS long-term workforce plan to recruit and retain hundreds of thousands more staff. This pay award is final and so I urge the Society of Radiographers to call off strikes.”

All photos & video: Betty Woolerton

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• Senior doctors begin 48-hour strike over pay
• Junior doctors march through Bristol to fight for 35% pay rise
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