Health workers at community hospitals in Chippenham, Trowbridge and Warminster have now ended a 24-hour strike in their ongoing dispute over pay.

The strike action was being taken by some members of the Unison trade union from 7am on Tuesday (December 12) until 7am this morning (Wednesday, December 13).

The staff claim to be missing out on a pay deal as other NHS employees because of a loophole in their employment terms and conditions.

Shirley-Ann Carvill, managing director of Wiltshire Health and Care said: “Patient safety remains our top priority and we have robust business continuity plans in place to ensure we can continue to deliver care and support to those who need it most.

During the strike and with support from system partners, we will continue to deliver our services and provide safe care to our patients but with a reduced staffing level.”

In June, the Government agreed a deal for workers on NHS contracts, which included a five per cent wage rise for this year and a one-off payment of £1,655 for 2022/23 for the lowest-paid workers.

But the Unison said workers employed by Wiltshire Health and Care, which is owned by but not technically part of the NHS, missed out on the one-off payment offered due to a "loophole" in the way they are employed.

Wiltshire Health and Care said: "The government announced on 6th November 2023 that funding would be made available for the non-consolidated payment and be received by 31st March 2024.

"Our funding application was submitted at the earliest opportunity on Friday 1st December 2023. Should WHC receive this funding, payment will be made to staff immediately."

The community hospital health workers on the picket lines were reported as saying they felt "aggrieved" and were being treated like "second class citizens".

During the one-day strike, appointments were rearranged and there were fewer staff on shift but the minor injuries units remained open.

Now Wiltshire Health and Care said it is waiting to hear if the government will fund the one-off increase in pay packets.

Despite being fully owned by local NHS trusts, Wiltshire Health and Care is run as a separate entity known as an LLP, similar to a private company. It is because of this technicality workers have so far missed out on the extra payment.

Jayne Jackson, regional organiser for Unison, reportedly said that staff feel "absolutely devalued, disrespected and angry".

She said: "We're hopeful their application for funding is successful however at this point in time there are no guarantees.

“And that payment should have been in our members pay packet in June. They've already waited a considerable amount of time.

"Unison recognise the employers are in a difficult position; however there's bigger questions that need to be asked here. About the status of LLP, delivering NHS services in Wiltshire.

“If they were an NHS trust they would have received the government funding centrally back in June.

"We want a written commitment that payment will be made. But we're certainly not going to stop putting the pressure on until our members receive the payment they're due."

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: "The government has agreed to provide additional funding for organisations with contracts to deliver NHS services, who employ their staff on dynamically linked Agenda for Change contracts.

"Whilst these staff are contractually eligible for the payments, the independent organisations are responsible for making them.

"Organisations will be able to apply for the funding and will need to show they have been negatively financially impacted by the pay deal, and that their staff are employed on dynamically linked Agenda for Change contracts.

"Funding for eligible organisations will be provided by the end of the financial year."