HEALTH workers across the conurbation joined hundreds of thousands nationwide in strike action on Monday – many for the first time in their careers.

The rare action, the largest of its kind in more than 30 years, included midwives, nurses, paramedics, porters and cleaners, joining in protest at the government’s decision not to award all NHS staff a one per cent pay rise recommended by an independent pay review body.

At Poole Hospital more than 30 people manned the picket during the four hour strike which started at 7am, receiving a lot of support from passing motorists.

Among them was a large cohort of midwives and maternity staff under the banners of the Royal College of Midwives.

Chris Pearse, a midwife for 30 years, and chair of Poole Hospital staff side for the union negotiating committee, was striking for the first time in her life. She said: “We are hurt and morale is low. Midwives, like many NHS workers, give a lot of extra time that is unpaid, we do extra hours, miss breaks, we don’t complain, but enough is enough.”

She said they had negotiated a staff service with managers to ensure “no woman was put at risk, adding: “Most of the midwives here are on their day off.”

Midwife Vicky Garner said the government was taking advantage of their passion for their jobs, while maternity support worker Sara Fripp, a union learning rep, added: “It feels like they are saying what we do isn’t worth it, we’re not valued. We will still continue to do what we do – we love it, we believe in it – but we should get what we deserve.”

Steve Attwill, regional officer for unite, said NHS staff had suffered a 12 to 15 per cent cut in wages in real terms since 2010, adding: “Clearly we regret having to take action today and we hope we won’t have to take it again.”

A number of unions called strike action including Unison, Unite, GMB, and the Royal College of Midwives. At the Royal Bournemouth Hospital, a group of staff were outside with banners and posters.

Gareth Drinkwater, branch secretary for the Bournemouth and Christchurch health branch of Unison, and who works in health records said they were striking over the “insulting pay offer.” He said ‘life and limb’ cover had been arranged so no emergency situations were affected.

Ruth Harrison, a bank staff nurse based in Bournemouth, said she resents the fact they have not had a pay rise and that she is unhappy with working conditions.

She said: "I have been a nurse for 29 years. I am compassionate, capable and motivated and I am saddened by no longer being able to deliver the high standard of care that I am capable of and would like to. "

A spokesperson for The Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said: “There has been no known impact or disruption to services as a result of today’s industrial action.”

A spokesman for Poole Hospital said: “The hospital's well-tested business continuity plans worked very well in ensuring we continued to maintain near normal services wherever possible. Care for our emergency patients was unaffected during the strike.”