Phlebotomists at Gloucestershire Royal and Cheltenham General Hospital have been taking industrial action since March 17 this year.
Phlebotomists outside Sandford Education Centre in Cheltenham earlier this year(Image: Carmelo Garcia)
Low-paid health workers involved in the longest strike in NHS history are calling for a pay rise “they deserve” as hospital chiefs make an offer.
Phlebotomists at Gloucestershire Royal and Cheltenham General Hospital have been taking industrial action since March 17 this year.
The 37 staff, who take blood samples from patients, have been on strike at the two hospitals now for more than 225 days.
They began their action after Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust refused to regrade staff who said they had been performing extra duties at work.
They claim to have been incorrectly placed on the lowest NHS pay scale, according to UNISON – this is disputed by the hospitals trust who say they follow national banding.
The union also claims that for years the staff have been doing more complex tasks, which those on the higher NHS band three usually perform.
The phlebotomists say they only want an extra £1.09 an hour which they deserve.
The health workers also want supervisors who are currently paid a band three to become a band four employee and are calling for back-pay to 2018.
But hospital chiefs said this could cost them as much as £450,000.
The Trust says it uses the national band two phlebotomy role profile, the same as most do across the country, including their partner trust, Gloucestershire Health and Care.
Phlebotomists outside Sanford Education Centre in Cheltenham on May 8, 2025.(Image: Carmelo Garcia)
They have made an offer to the workers of their roles changing to a new band three healthcare support worker role.
Hospital chiefs say that if this were to be accepted, this would mean that on average a member of staff on strike will be better off by at least 24p per hour and up to £1.09 per hour.
The hourly rate for band three is £12.75 rising to £13.60 after two years.
But the phlebotomists are calling on chief executive Kevin McNamara to help bring the dispute to a close.
Kelvin Willsher, one of the phlebotomists, said: “226 days and counting – Come on Kevin, if you really do value your phlebotomists as you say you do, let’s stop this farce right now – you know what to do, put your money where your mouth is?”
Jessie Hoskin, a Green Party activist and former councillor, said: “This small group of minimum wage staff have a simple demand – they want to be paid fairly for the work they do.
“Instead of paying them the £1.09 extra an hour they deserve, they feel as if their employer has stonewalled, gaslit and lied to them.”
Main entrance at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital
A Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust spokesperson said the offer they have made is an important step and is being considered.
“The trust has made an offer of a new role for more pay, better training, and better facilities for phlebotomy staff,” a spokesperson said.
“All the offers are an important step, and although the offers have not yet been accepted, we continue to talk and are hopeful that they might provide a route to resolution.”