Union UNISON said staff will take action in the coming weeks unless bosses improve their offer on back pay.

The row centres on healthcare assistants being regraded to a higher NHS Agenda for Change band after years of carrying out complex tasks above their pay rate.

The trust has only offered seven months of back pay, however, UNISON says that falls far short of what staff deserve for years of extra duties.

Despite months of negotiations, the union says the trust has failed to put forward a fair deal. In a ballot that closed yesterday (August 27), 99.4 per cent of staff backed strike action.

This is the fifth trust in the North East to be hit by such a dispute. Successful campaigns have already taken place in Teesside, South Tyneside and Sunderland while the dispute in Northumberland is still unresolved.

UNISON Northern regional secretary Clare Williams said: “Healthcare assistants across County Durham and Darlington provide exceptional care to patients. But they feel undervalued and let down by the trust.

“Despite repeated chances to do the right thing, the trust has failed to improve the offer on back pay.

“Being paid for just a matter of months rather than years fails to reflect the complexity of the tasks they’ve been doing for so long.

“The trust should recognise the vital role healthcare assistants play and ensure staff receive decent compensation for their work, instead of forcing them into a strike no one wants.”

A County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust spokesperson said: “We highly value the hard work, dedication, and contribution of all our healthcare assistants, who play a vital role in patient care across the Trust.

“We are continuing to engage in constructive discussions with UNISON to reach a resolution on this matter.

“Our priority remains ensuring the safe delivery of high-quality care for our patients, and we are working closely with staff and union representatives to avoid any potential disruption.

“We remain committed to treating our staff fairly and in line with national NHS agreements.”