RADIOGRAPHERS at Basingstoke hospital are on strike today because of an ongoing pay freeze.

Members of the Society of Radiographers (SoR) voted in favour of strike action between 9am and 1pm, and will work-to-rule for the remainder of this week.

Emergency care will continue to be provided but pre-booked appointments and procedures may be affected.

Victoria Kendall, a local representative for SoR, said: “As radiographers we provide all of the diagnostic imaging services such as X-rays, CT, MRI and ultrasound scans.”

Basingstoke hospital warned that the strike could affect some outpatient and elective service provision.

The strike is the first held by radiographers in more than 30 years.

Richard Evans, SoR’s chief executive officer, said: “There is the possibility of more action by radiographers in the future. The anger that they and other health professionals feel is very strong.”

The strike is regarding a pay freeze after the Government rejected a recommended one per cent pay rise for the current year.

Mr Evans added: “Radiographers will try and keep the effect on patients to a minimum but radiographers and other healthcare workers have got to the stage that they feel there is no alternative.

“Because of inflation, staff in the NHS have been taking a year-on-year pay cut. Unless we show the Government that we are serious about our claim that NHS staff should be treated fairly, they will continue to take advantage of our goodwill.

“There is a shortage of radiographers, which already has an effect on the timely delivery of diagnostic examinations and the treatment of cancer, which has direct negative consequences on patients. Without reasonable and proper recognition of the work that they do, it is increasingly likely that qualified professionals will leave radiography and it will become even more difficult to recruit the additional people which are needed.”