HOSPITAL chiefs are preparing for hundreds of staff to walk out on strike on Monday.

Midwives, ambulance staff and other health workers will join the picket line between 7am and 11am at the Royal Bolton and Bolton One.

Women in labour and patients needing emergency treatment will not be affected, bosses say.

Yet people attending routine clinics and appointments could face longer waits.

Andy Ennis, chief operating officer at the Bolton NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We are not sure what the turn out is going to be.

“However we have an agreement with union members that we will not be left without any staff in emergency situations.

“Where we think there is a risk, we can go for exemption.

“The unions are working well with us and patient safety will come first.”

Ward clarke, auxiliary staff, health care assistants plus pathology and pharmacy workers are expected to walk out.

Midwives will join the pickets on an hourly rota.

Heather Edwards, head of communications, added: “No mothers or women in labour will be denied treatment in the strike.”

Unions across the UK are in a dispute over the government’s refusal to give NHS workers a one per cent pay rise.

Members of Unison, Unite, Royal College of Midwives and GMB voted in favour of industrial action.

Unison members will carry out the four hours of strike action and Unite will “work to rule” for three weeks.

Linda Miller, acting secretary for Bolton health branch of Unison, said: “We’re hoping for a strong turn out of staff on Monday.

“There are some staff using food banks because they are struggling with the rising cost of living on their current wage.

“To deny them a one per cent rise is unfair. Some staff are finding it very hard to put bread on the table, which is why we are going on strike.”

Members of the Royal College of Nurses will not be joining the action on Monday.

However, nurses who are members of Unison could join the pickets .