STAFF who advise NHS bosses on the best drugs and treatments available for patients took strike action over plummeting take-home pay and chronic staffing shortages today.

Hundreds of workers at the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) downed tools following yet another below- inflation pay deal for health service workers in 2022-23, their union Unison said.

The walkout by the Manchester and London-based staff will be followed by four days of work-to-rule industrial action, with employees refusing overtime and only working contracted hours.