BIOMEDICAL scientists at hospitals in the north of England walked out today in the first wave of strikes taking place over the coming month. 

About 60 microbiologists at York Hospital, and blood scientists at Scarborough and Bridlington Hospital, downed tools over unsustainable workloads that are putting patients’ safety at risk, their union Unite says.

One of the scientists said: “The dehumanisation and lack of care for the team, including unprofessional threats to force staff to work outside of existing contracts and well above all reasonable expectations, has led to chronic understaffing and failure to retain trained staff.”

Unite regional officer Chris Daly said: “Our members regularly report having to cope with workloads that are completely unmanageable. 

“Instead of recruiting more staff, the trust has closed laboratories and have overseen an exodus of highly trained senior scientists. This cannot be allowed to continue.”

Scientists will also walk out on October 7 and 11.