Operating theatre staff at Luton and Dunstable University Hospital have begun strike action today in a dispute over changes to overtime pay.
The two-day walkout, organised by UNISON, is taking place after talks failed to resolve a row over payments for staff who work beyond their contracted hours.
The dispute centres on a decision by Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust to change how additional hours are paid. Union members say theatre staff have lost payments worth up to £120 per shift after the trust ended local overtime arrangements earlier this year.
According to UNISON, staff previously received enhanced payments for working beyond their contracted weekly hours to help cover shortages and tackle waiting lists. In February, the trust moved to a system where additional shifts are paid at a flat rate through its staff bank.
The union fears the changes will make it harder to persuade experienced staff to work extra shifts, potentially leading to staffing shortages and disruption to planned operations.
The strike is expected to affect theatre services at the L&D, although the trust has said previously that its priority is maintaining safe, high-quality patient care.
Caroline Hennessy, UNISON Eastern head of health, said: “This smash and grab on staff pay is a disgrace. Workers rack up the hours to help tackle waiting lists and ensure patients get the care they need. They deserve to be paid fairly for doing so.
“It’s easy for Bedfordshire NHS to avoid any disruption. Bosses just need to keep paying staff the same rates they were before.”
Mark Williams, a senior operating department practitioner at Luton and Dunstable Hospital, said staff felt their commitment was being overlooked.
He said: “Ministers claim credit for getting waiting lists down, but it’s theatre staff who are doing the hard work.
“Taking away overtime pay shows a complete lack of respect for hospital workers.
“We face horrifying experiences. I’ve seen an eight-year-old child die in front of my eyes, but we still get up the next day and get on with the job. The least the trust can do is pay us fairly for it.”
The hospital posted on its Facebook page: “Operating Theatre staff will take part in industrial action from the 25 to 26 June. This will impact our services and there may be delays. However, please attend your scheduled appointment or procedure unless you hear from us. We thank you for your patience.”
The trust said: “UNISON has confirmed that some of our operating theatre staff will take part in industrial strike action from 7.45am on Thursday 25 June until 11.59pm on Friday 26 June.
“We want to be open that this action will impact our services, and we are currently working hard to finalise plans to maintain safe care. While we will do our best to ensure planned appointments and procedures continue, we know there will be disruption, and some delays are likely. Emergency, trauma and urgent maternity theatres will continue to run as usual.
“We will do our best to avoid widespread cancellations. If any appointments or procedures need to change, we will contact patients directly.
“Our priority is maintaining safe, high‑quality care for patients. We value the vital contribution of our theatre teams and remain committed to constructive discussions with UNISON and our staff.”
The industrial action follows a unanimous vote in favour of strike action by theatre staff earlier this month.
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has previously defended the changes, saying it standardised overtime and additional-hours payments for theatre staff so that colleagues are paid consistently and in line with national NHS Agenda for Change arrangements. The trust has also said the changes followed a formal consultation process and were intended to ensure fairness across the workforce while supporting the long-term sustainability of services.
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