Hospital blood-takers strike for 236 days in ‘longest walkout in NHS history’

Specialist healthcare workers who draw blood from patients have been on strike for 236 consecutive days in what their unions claim is the longest strike in NHS history.

36 phlebotomists claim the clinical nature of the tasks they carry out means they should be on a higher NHS pay scale, worth an extra £1.09 per hour.

Bosses at Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust have refused to give in to their demands, despite staff at other hospitals successfully defending their cases without the need for industrial action.

Union Unison said it would cost the trust £60,000 a year to regrade affected workers’ grades; This represents a quarter of CEO Kevin McNamara’s annual salary of around £245,000.

It is understood that 37 phlebotomists were on strike when the strike began on March 17, and one returned to work.

Their work at Gloucestershire Royal and Cheltenham General hospitals is carried out by other staff, such as nurses.

Participants in the protest receive financial support from their unions, but this only accounts for a portion of their salaries; This is at the lowest rung of the NHS pay scale, currently known as Agenda for Change.

The length of the strike and the size of the increase they are seeking means that they will likely be out of pocket even if they win the case; Their position is a matter of principle, sources say.

Unison general secretary Christina McAnea said: ‘It takes a lot of skill to put patients at ease and ensure they go through an experience that leaves many people weak at the knees.

‘But these essential workers are unfairly paid the lowest wage in the NHS.

‘This in no way reflects the very talented work they do. Everyone except senior executives can see that this is wrong.

‘The trust needs to stop being so bigoted and pay these dedicated staff what they deserve.’

Kerry Baigent, Unison’s South West regional secretary, said: ‘Phlebotomists are standing up not just for themselves, but for every healthcare worker who is belittled and ignored.

‘It’s time for the trust to listen and end the longest strike by NHS workers in history.’

Ms McAnea will join TUC general secretary Paul Nowak, other union leaders and staff at a rally in support of striking phlebotomists in Gloucester today.

A Department for Health and Social Care spokesperson said: ‘The Agenda for Change payment system is based on a Job Evaluation Plan developed through collaboration between NHS leaders, unions and independent experts.

Unison general secretary Christina McAnea

‘It is the responsibility of individual NHS organizations and unions to work jointly to deliver the program correctly.

‘We have recently agreed various measures to support this and restore confidence in the program put forward by the NHS Staff Council.’

The trust said a series of meetings had been held in a bid to resolve the dispute, including involving conciliation service Acas.

The statement said: ‘To date Unison and phlebotomist representatives have indicated that they are not willing to discuss or accept the trust’s proposal for a new group of three healthcare support worker (HCSW) roles for all phlebotomist staff.

‘This is despite the trust’s commitment to back pay for this role to April 2025 and provide all necessary training.

‘Instead, Unison asked whether the trust would consider an improved phlebotomy terms of reference, which they would share with the trust by 13 November 2025.

‘Unison requested that the job description they submitted on 27 June 2025 be rewritten and for this to be assessed by another local trust’s job evaluation panel.

‘This process does not comply with the national job evaluation handbook but the trust will consider it as an option.

Ambulances waiting at Gloucestershire Royal Infirmary in Gloucester

‘Unison has not yet committed to honoring the outcome if another panel agrees on taping.’

Unison said it could not say when this was the longest strike or what the longest previous strike was.

He could no longer find any references, and no other unions or trade groups disputed his claims.