Healthcare professionals working at Central Middlesex Hospital led walkouts as part of a national dispute over pay.
Medical staff from the hospital in Acton Lane, Park Royal, joined the picket line on Friday to protest against their pay and the impact of cuts to NHS budgets under the coalition government.
Unison, which claims to be the UK’s biggest trade union, condemned the government’s decision to give a one per cent unconsolidated pay rise to NHS nurses and staff at the top of their pay scale in 2014/15 and 2015/16.
Michael Walker, UNISON Regional Officer said: “Pay in the NHS has been effectively cut by 10 per cent since the coalition came to power.
“Our members in the NHS tell us they are demoralised, overworked and undervalued. And we also know that a demotivated workforce is bad for patients.
“It is a national disgrace that working people have to rely on benefits, food banks or resort to payday loans at exorbitant interest rates to make ends meet.
“Our members are among those hit hard by the state of the economy, the rise in the cost of food and fuel, coupled with housing and benefit cuts.
“Members don’t take action often or easily, but this time it feels that we have no choice.”
A Department of Health spokesman said: “We cannot afford a general pay rise on top of incremental pay increases of up to six per cent without risking frontline jobs and safe staffing levels.
“We are disappointed that the unions rejected our offer to discuss any alternative proposals on pay, within an available budget of nearly £1 billion.
“However, our door remains open if they wish to reconsider their position.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here