Radiographers threaten strike action at Scots hospital days after Humza Yousaf boast

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Radiographers are threatening to strike for the first time in Scotland in a row over working conditions.X-ray staff at Hairmyres Hospital have overwhelmingly voted to back industrial action after long-running talks with management failed to resolve the dispute.It comes just days after Humza Yousaf boasted his government had managed to avoid "a single day of strikes in our NHS" after junior doctors in England confirmed a walk-out this month.GMB Scotland said workers at the East Kilbride hospital felt their concerns about rota changes had been ignored and they were left with no option but to consider strikes.

NHS Lanarkshire plans the introduction of an on-call rota because of a new vascular radiography service providing specialist support for patients from across Lanarkshire and the south of Scotland.But staff fear the proposals will risk the safety of patients, often forced to travel long distances, because of concerns over training and shift changes.Radiographers have also voiced concern about training on the new equipment and systems while feeling pressured to accept changes to rotas.Karen Leonard, GMB Scotland organiser, called on NHS bosses to engage seriously with the staff to avert looming industrial action."The radiographers at Hairmyres have tried repeatedly to find a way forward but management have, so far, ignored all their efforts," she said."These are skilled staff, crucial to the effective running of the hospital, and their expert opinion and insight should be harnessed by managers to make things better not disregarded."They feel unsupported and undervalued and their overwhelming vote to support industrial action is only the most obvious sign of their increasing disillusion and dismay."Jackie Baillie, Labour