NHS pay dispute: 'Morale has been dreadful' says union

Thousands of NHS workers in England and Northern Ireland, including nurses, midwives and ambulance staff, have been staging four hour strikes.

They are protesting about the decision not to implement a 1% rise for all staff recommended by a pay review body.

Unison General Secretary Dave Prentis said: "Nearly all hospitals budgeted for a 1% pay increase, it is in the funding, the agreement has been reneged on for political reasons".

Ministers say the unions' demands are not affordable.