Specialist health workers taking part in the longest strike in NHS history are being given a discretionary one-off payment, health chiefs say.
A total of 37 phlebotomists, who specialise in drawing blood, walked out of Gloucestershire Royal and Cheltenham General hospitals in March 2025, more than 300 days ago, over a pay dispute.
Caroline Hayhurst, a striking phlebotomist, said: “We walked out on March 17 last year determined that we would stand our ground and receive proper pay for a job we love.”
Kevin McNamara, the hospitals’ chief executive, said the trust had made an offer of a new “higher-banded” role and the union is balloting on whether to accept this week.