For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails
Midwives, nurses, paramedics, ambulance staff, hospital porters and cleaners have walked out as part of the NHS’s biggest strike in 32 years.
The four hour strike, staged from 7am to 11am on 13 October, is in protest against the Government’s refusal to give workers a recommended one per cent pay rise.
Around 400,000 staff are expected to join the picket lines, with members of the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) taking part in the action for the first time in its 133 year history.
Show all 17 1 /17NHS staff strike: Midwives and nurses stage four-hour walk out NHS staff strike: Midwives and nurses stage four-hour walk out NHS strike in London National Health Service (NHS) workers, including a midwife and her baby (C), gather outside St Thomas' Hospital in London
NHS staff strike: Midwives and nurses stage four-hour walk out NHS strike in London Midwives picket during a strike outside a hospital in central London
NHS staff strike: Midwives and nurses stage four-hour walk out NHS strike in London Midwives picket during a strike outside a hospital in central London
NHS staff strike: Midwives and nurses stage four-hour walk out NHS strike in Manchester Midwives shout as they stand on a picket line outside St Mary's Hospital in Manchester
NHS staff strike: Midwives and nurses stage four-hour walk out NHS strike in Bristol NHS workers picket outside the Bristol Royal Infirmary Hospital, Bristol, where staff are protesting against pay rise conditions
NHS staff strike: Midwives and nurses stage four-hour walk out NHS strike in Bristol NHS workers picket outside Saint Michael's Hospital in Bristol
NHS staff strike: Midwives and nurses stage four-hour walk out NHS strike in Basingstoke NHS health workers protest outside the Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital in Basingstoke
NHS staff strike: Midwives and nurses stage four-hour walk out NHS strike in London NHS workers strike outside University College Hospital in central London
NHS staff strike: Midwives and nurses stage four-hour walk out NHS strike in London NHS workers strike outside University College Hospital in central London
NHS staff strike: Midwives and nurses stage four-hour walk out NHS strike in London NHS workers hold placards during a strike, outside St Pancras Hospital in London
NHS staff strike: Midwives and nurses stage four-hour walk out NHS strike in Liverpool NHS workers protest outside the Liverpool Womens Hospital as hundreds of thousands of health workers have walked out on strike, many for the first time in their lives, in protest at the Government's decision not to give them a recommended 1% pay rise
NHS staff strike: Midwives and nurses stage four-hour walk out NHS strike in Liverpool NHS workers protest outside the Liverpool Womens Hospital
NHS staff strike: Midwives and nurses stage four-hour walk out NHS strike in Liverpool An ambulance passes strikers outside the Royal Liverpool Hospital in Liverpool
NHS staff strike: Midwives and nurses stage four-hour walk out NHS strike in Liverpool A striker holds up a placard outside the Royal Liverpool Hospital in Liverpool
NHS staff strike: Midwives and nurses stage four-hour walk out NHS strike in Reading An NHS health worker holds a UNISON placard outside the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading
NHS staff strike: Midwives and nurses stage four-hour walk out NHS strike in Reading NHS health workers including midwives protest outside the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading
NHS staff strike: Midwives and nurses stage four-hour walk out NHS strike in Reading NHS workers protest outside the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies