Historic NHS Strike Enters 236th Day
A group of specialist healthcare workers responsible for taking patients' blood samples has now been on strike for 236 consecutive days, in what their union claims is the longest walkout in NHS history. The 36 phlebotomists at Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust argue that the clinical nature of their work justifies moving to a higher pay band, which would mean an additional £1.09 per hour.
The Pay Dispute Explained
The striking workers, who began their industrial action on March 17, maintain that their current placement on the lowest rung of the NHS pay scale - known as Agenda for Change - fails to recognise their skilled work. Originally, 37 staff members joined the walkout, with one having since returned to work.
Unison, the union representing the phlebotomists, calculates that upgrading the workers would cost the trust approximately £60,000 annually. This amount represents about a quarter of chief executive Kevin McNamara's yearly salary of around £245,000.
Despite staff at other hospitals successfully arguing their case without industrial action, trust management at Gloucestershire has refused to meet the workers' demands. The phlebotomists' duties at both Gloucestershire Royal and Cheltenham General hospitals are currently being covered by other healthcare staff, including nurses.
Union Support and Principle-Driven Action
Christina McAnea, Unison's general secretary, emphasised the skilled nature of phlebotomy work: 'It takes a lot of skill to put patients at ease and get them through an experience that makes many people go weak at the knees. But these essential workers are unfairly being paid the lowest rate in the NHS.'
She added: 'The trust should stop being so bloody-minded and pay these dedicated staff what they're due.'
Kerry Baigent, Unison's South West regional secretary, framed the dispute as having broader significance: 'The phlebotomists are standing up not just for themselves, but for every health worker who's been undervalued and overlooked.'
The striking workers receive financial support from their union, though it amounts to only a fraction of their regular salary. Given the strike's extraordinary length and the modest pay increase they're seeking, sources indicate the workers are likely to be significantly out of pocket even if they eventually win their case, suggesting their position has become a matter of principle.
Attempts at Resolution Continue
The trust confirmed that several meetings have been held to resolve the dispute, including involvement from the conciliation service Acas. In a statement, the trust noted that Unison and phlebotomist representatives have declined to discuss or accept an offer for a new band three healthcare support worker role, despite the trust's commitment to back-date pay to April 2025 and provide required training.
Instead, Unison has asked the trust to consider an enhanced phlebotomy job description, which they plan to share by November 13, 2025. The union has also requested that the revised job description be assessed by a job evaluation panel from another local trust, though the trust noted this approach isn't in line with the national job evaluation handbook.
The Department of Health and Social Care reiterated that the Agenda for Change pay system is based on a Job Evaluation Scheme developed through collaboration between NHS leaders, trade unions and independent experts, stating that implementation remains the responsibility of individual NHS organisations and trade unions working in partnership.
As the historic strike continues, Ms McAnea joined TUC general secretary Paul Nowak, other union leaders and staff at a rally in Gloucester today to show support for the striking phlebotomists, maintaining pressure on trust management to resolve the long-running dispute.
