PATIENTS needing emergency treatment will not be put at risk when hundreds of NHS staff strike next month, a Taunton-based union boss promises.

Nurses, ambulance workers, porters, paramedics, occupational therapists, cooks and healthcare assistants are among workers walking out from 7am to 11am on Monday, October 13 over pay.

And workers will also stop working during their allotted breaks from Tuesday to Friday, October 14 to 17.

Two-thirds of members of the largest health union, UNISON, who voted in a ballot say they would take strike action, while 88% would protest “short of strike action”.

UNISON bosses awaited the outcome of ballots from nine other unions before co-ordinating a walkout.

Helen Eccles, UNISON’s South-West head of health, said: “We’re co-ordinating a strike across the whole service.

“It isn’t done lightly – it’s our first ballot across the health service on pay in over 30 years.

“The pay review body recommended a 1% increase from April, 2014, but the Government said it would agree a 1% one-off payment for some staff that would not be carried forward on to next year’s salaries.

“Morale’s really low and there’s a recruitment crisis among nurses.

“There has been a pay freeze for several years and salaries are worth 10% less in real terms than in 2010.

“We’ve heard of members unable to pay the mortgage, some taking second jobs, others using food banks, and many leaving and not being replaced.

“As regards the strike, we’ll work with employers beforehand to ensure that they can maintain emergency cover so there’s no risk to patients.

“It’s a sad day for the NHS, but staff are upset, angry and demoralised.”

A Musgrove Park Hospital nurse, who asked to remain anonymous, said staff are working harder than ever and rarely take scheduled breaks.

"We have to maintain standards for the patients’ sake, but it’s hard putting on a brave face when morale is so low,” said the nurse.

A Department of Health spokesman said: “Despite tough financial times we’ve protected the NHS budget and now have 13,500 more clinical staff than in 2010.

“We want to protect these increases and can’t afford incremental pay increases, which disproportionately reward the highest earners, on top of a general pay rise without risking frontline NHS jobs.

“We remain keen to meet unions to discuss how we can work tog-ether to make the NHS pay system fairer and more affordable.”