DIAGNOSTIC imaging and radiotherapy professionals who are members of the Society of Radiographers will be striking on Monday (October 20).

Radiology departments and cancer treatment centres across the country will be affected by strikes for four hours from 9am until 1pm.

Worcestershire is not set to see a picket line but where hospitals are affected emergency and urgent care will continue to be provided but pre-booked appointments and procedures may be affected.

And the action continues into the week as radiographers will be working to rule and will be taking scheduled breaks and not working unpaid overtime.

Richard Evans, the society’s chief executive officer, said: "This is the first time since 1982 that radiographers have gone on strike over pay and there is the possibility of more action in the future. The anger that they and other NHS workers feel is very strong."

Strike action is being taken by members of the Society and many other NHS trade unions because of an ongoing pay freeze.

The government rejected a recommended 1 percent pay rise for the current year and has said that there will be no increase in 2015.

Mr Evans added: "The last thing radiographers want is to hurt the people they serve. Steps have been taken to minimise the impact on patients.

"This disagreement between NHS staff and the government has been going on for a long time and radiographers have lost patience with an employer that they feel does not value the hard work that they do."