Radiographers and sonographers proposed strike

Radiographers and sonographers are striking between 9am and 1pm at Scunthorpe, Grimsby and Goole hospitals and are working to rule from 1pm on Monday to Friday October 25.

The walk-in service for people who have been referred by their GP for a non-urgent x-ray may face delays on Monday morning and are being advised to attend on another day or after 1pm.

Tracey Broom, general manager for diagnostics, therapeutics and central operations, said: “Plans are in place to make sure those patients needing emergency or urgent imaging are seen on Monday. However, those people requiring non-urgent x-rays or scans may face a delay.”

Services which will be affected include:

Grimsby hospital – planned and non-urgent referrals for x-ray, CT and MRI; the cancellation of a cardiology clinic, reduction in service for orthopaedic referrals from outpatients and a reduction in service for breast care radiology

Scunthorpe hospital –planned and non-urgent referrals for x-ray, CT, MRI and ultrasound

Goole hospital –planned and non-urgent referrals for x-ray and ultrasound.

Tracey said: “We have had to cancel a small number of patients who were due to come in on Monday to a cardiology clinic at Grimsby but we have managed to see extra patients this week who were due to come in for an MRI or CT on Monday as we have brought their appointments forward.”

She added: “We will be monitoring waiting times during the action, as well as making sure emergency and urgent patients are seen. We will do our best to keep disruption to our patients to a minimum however people may face delays.”

Reception staff will be available during the strike action to book patient appointments and take telephone enquiries as normal.