Health strikes: Unions call off Monday's planned strike action

Staff on the picket line at the Causeway Hospital in Coleraine on Friday

A strike by health workers on Monday has been called off after talks were set up with the Secretary of State Chris Heaton Harris.

It comes as healthcare staff have been taking part in strike action on Friday after the Department of Health said it could not make them a pay offer.

Unison, Nipsa, The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) and The Royal College of Midwives will meet Mr Harris next week.

The unions have submitted a list of key issues they want addressed.

Rita Devlin from the RCN said news of the meeting, at the Northern Ireland Office, was welcomed.

"Nursing staff working in Northern Ireland have been angry and frustrated at the continuing lack of clarity in relation to a pay offer for health care staff in Northern Ireland," she said.

"If this situation is not resolved urgently, we will be considering what further action, including strike, we must take to ensure our members are not left behind again."

On Friday thousands of health workers took to the picket lines after the Department of Health said it was "not in a position" to make them a pay offer and was "potentially facing high-impact cuts".

Ambulance workers were among those taking part in the action.

The ambulance service appealed for people to only call them in "life-threatening emergencies".

Unison members started a 24-hour walkout at 00:00 BST. Nipsa members were taking action short of strike.

Nurses, social care providers, administrative staff and cleaners were among those taking part.

The Royal College of Nursing and the trade union Unite were not participating in the industrial action.

The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) said ambulances would still be available on Friday.

It said it would prioritise call-outs for patients experiencing cardiac arrests, loss of consciousness, breathing difficulties and severe bleeding.

It warned that people whose needs were less urgent need would face "lengthy delays" for an ambulance and said people "should resist calling back to check on the arrival time of the ambulance".

'Deep anger'

Earlier this week, Unison said there was "deep anger" that "members were once again being left behind as health workers in England, Scotland and Wales vote on pay offers.

The union said it was "utterly unacceptable" that no offer had been made to health workers in Northern Ireland and that "no pathway to negotiations currently exists to resolve this dispute".

At the scene: Keiron Tourish, BBC News NI North West Reporter

Mr Wray said staffing and pay aren't sustainable

About 50 NHS staff are on the picket line at Altnagelvin Hospital in Londonderry, including nurses, cleaners, caterers and ambulance staff.

There's a constant beeping in support of those on strike by members of the public.

The strikers are waving trade union flags and are in good spirits. While they don't want to be on strike there's a determination among them that they must make a stand.

John Wray works in cleaning and catering in the hospital.

"It's hard work that we do. And it's not just about pay because our staffing levels are terrible and recruitment within the health service is an important issue too."

Alison Burke manages the catering and domestic staff.

"Unfortunately, we've been here before, we want pay parity with England. I think its disgusting we have no pay offer on the table.

"I don't think anybody has listened to us. I think that will be coming up at election time. Somebody will try to start listening to us because that seems to be what always happens."

"Unfortunately, I just hope nobody knocks on my door. I'm angry. It's all about getting the votes. But where are they today? Why are they not standing here beside us? They're sitting in their house. They're not the ones struggling to pay their bills. They're still getting paid."

Unison's Patricia McKeown says their members feel they are undervalued

Patricia McKeown, Unison's Northern Ireland regional secretary, said they have members "from all areas of the health service" taking industrial action on Friday.

Ms McKeown told BBC Radio Foyle that emergency cover is being provided in order for services to still be maintained.

"Across the entire health service we have a staffing crisis in virtually every element of it," she said.

"That is a staffing crisis produced by this increasing feeling that there is no value being put on people who deliver our health and social care system."

Ms McKeown said strike action is "a great strain on the system, but also a terrible strain on their workers themselves".

'Considerable pressure'

On Thursday, the Department of Health said it was "potentially facing high-impact cuts on health and social care services that are already under considerable pressure".

It said it would seek clarification "from the UK government on Barnett consequential for Northern Ireland from the proposed pay settlement in England".

"This will help inform ongoing engagement with trade union colleagues."

In January, 20,000 healthcare staff in Northern Ireland including nurses, ambulance and hospital support staff took part in a one-day strike.

Another planned 24-hour walkout by health workers will take place on Monday, 3 April.

Information for patients on the impact of industrial action for Friday is available on health and social care websites.