HOSPITAL staff across south Essex are preparing contingency plans ahead of a day of strike action.

Bosses at Southend and Basildon hospitals are bracing themselves for a walkout of a third of staff on Wednesday, November 30.

Plans to minimise disruption include ensuring staff who want to work can by maintaining access to the hospital through any picket lines The also aim to maintain adequate health and safety arrangements for patients and visitors by ensuring A&E and the intensive care units are not affected.

Sandra Le Blanc, human relations director at Southend Hospital, said: “We have been working closely with representatives of unions.

“Patient safety remains our top priority and we are grateful for the assurance we have received from the hospital unions that they have no intention of doing anything which would place our patients at risk.

“Some unions have still to complete their ballots and, until they do, we shall not have a full picture of the likely scenario.

“However, we have well-rehearsed contingency plans in place to ensure that, should the strike go ahead, the hospital continues to function smoothly.”

"We recognise the unions legitimate right to take action and we know from the unions that they take seriously the need to protect patient care. At the moment, we have no reason to believe that there will be significant disruption to normal hospital services. We of course have contingency plans in place for all eventualities as part of our business continuity arrangements, which could include, for instance, scaling back on non-urgent clinics or procedures." Workers are protesting about planned public sector pension reforms, which they say could see them receiving less and paying more in contributions.

The public service union, Unison represents a wide range of clinical and administrative staff at the hospital, including nurses, midwives, health visitors, paramedics, catering staff, porters and cleaners.

Nick Bradley, Unison’s regional officer for health, said patient safety would not be jeopardised.

He said: “We are in discussion with management to ensure them we are totally committed to patient safety. It is not our intention to cause any harm to patients. We will make sure there are enough staff on duty.

“The disruption will mostly be to outpatients and non-emergency work in the hospital. A&E and other wards won’t be disrupted. But we need to send a message that we will stand up to protect our pensions.”

Other trade unions have stopped short of balloting their members at this stage but they have made it clear they will support the action with local rallies and lunchtime meetings.

The action will also affect the operations of both the NHS South East Essex and NHS South West Essex primary care trusts, along with other public sector services such as fire brigades, councils and schools.