PICKETING hospital workers chanted: “Fair pay for patient care” as hundreds began a two-day strike today against underpayment for the duties they carry out.

Waving Unison flags, the healthcare support staff took part in the “historic” action at Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust separately to the union’s national dispute over the issue.

Unison general secretary Christina McAnea joined them as they picketed outside Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Greenwich and University Hospital Lewisham in south-east London.

She said: “Across the country, similar disputes have been fought and resolved, with fair agreements reached elsewhere. It’s time Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust followed suit.”

Unison says the workers are underpaid up to £2,000 a year by being employed on band 2 of the NHS Agenda for Change pay scale but regularly perform clinical tasks corresponding to the band 3 pay level.

The trust said: “We are in ongoing consultation with the unions and are committed to keeping our colleagues up to date and informed throughout this process.”