MIDWIVES, nurses and other NHS workers stood side by side during a four-hour strike at The Royal Bolton Hospital.

For many workers, industrial action was a "last resort" against the government’s refusal to give all NHS staff a one per cent pay rise.

More than 200 workers from Unison, Royal College of Midwives (RCN), Unite and GMB joined the picket lines.

Andy Charkewycz, the secretary of Unison’s health branch in Bolton, said staff were feeling the strain.

Mr Charkewycz said: “It has just been cut after cut in the NHS and to be denied a pay rise for four years is outrageous.

“The cost of living increasing every year and staff are really struggling.

“This is not against the trust, this is against the government.”

An independent pay review body recommended all NHS staff be given the one per cent rise.

However this was rejected by the government, which decided to give the one per cent pay rise to those on the top of their pay band.

Community midwife Kelly Mortimer said it was a difficult but necessary decision to go on strike.

Ms Mortimer, aged 31 from Heaton, said: “I feel very upset and angry about the way we are being treated.

“It was very a big decision to take us away from out patients but we feel that something has to be done.

“I’ve changed unions so that I can support my colleagues. Enough is enough.”

About 70 midwives from the Princess Anne Maternity Unit and community teams joined the pickets on an hourly rota.

Bolton RCM steward Martine Bayliss said: “We are standing here today in solidarity against the government’s decision to not give us a one per cent pay rise.

“We think it is an insult and we need to send a strong message to the government that they are undervaluing our profession.

“We have made sure no patients will suffer as a result of today’s action, which is why we have midwives still on the delivery suite as we stand here.”

Porters, cleaners, caretakers and clerical staff joined the pickets, making it the biggest NHS strike in 32 years.