'Vital roles, vital recognition': Leeds NHS operating theatre staff to strike in pay dispute

Operating theatre staff at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (LTHT) are set to go on strike from Monday (July 20) in an ongoing dispute over pay.

The industrial action will begin at 8am, with theatre assistants in Leeds expected to remain on strike for 14 days.

Trade union Unison said staff should be paid at a higher rate for their “vital role in keeping operating theatres safe”.

It has called on the trust to regrade them from Band 2, the lowest NHS pay grade, to Band 3 and provide back pay for carrying out higher-level responsibilities, including reducing infection risks and assisting with specialist surgical equipment.

The union said more than 100 NHS trusts and health boards across England and Wales have already agreed regrading and back-pay settlements for healthcare support workers in similar roles.

It added that repeated attempts to resolve the dispute with the trust have so far failed.

Unison Yorkshire and Humberside regional manager Leonie Sharp said: “These workers have vital roles, ensuring operations run smoothly and patients stay safe.

“They’ve repeatedly asked the trust to recognise their skilled work. But senior managers fail to recognise the complex nature of their jobs.

“To strike is always a last resort, but these workers can't be expected to go on without receiving the pay to which they’re entitled.

“Other trusts across the country have recognised the value of their staff. Leeds must do the same.”

Dr Elizabeth Garthwaite, interim chief medical officer at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “We would like to assure our patients that we have plans in place to provide safe care during this period of strike action.

“We value and respect all our colleagues and we have been working closely with them throughout this process.”