NI Radiographers: warning that New Year strike action is on cards if Stormont deadlock continues
"Healthcare workers should not be used as bargaining chips in a political game"
Northern Ireland's radiographers warned today (Thursday) will go on strike again in the New Year if progress is not made to restore Stormont.
Talks between the main political parties and Secretary of State, Chris Heaton-Harris have been taking place at Hillsborough over the last three days - and are set to continue on Monday.
On the table is a £2.5 billion package to stabilise finances in the region awaits the executive when it returns.
However, DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has declined to say whether he believes a deal can be reached before Christmas to restore Stormont.
The Society of Radiographers said it hoped the discussions reach a constructive conclusion, but if there is no progress its members will go out on strike on Thursday January 18.
It said radiography professionals - who work in diagnostic services, carrying out X-rays, MRI and CT scans, and in therapeutic services, planning and delivering radiotherapy to cancer patients - support nine out of 10 patients in the health service.
But it said too few radiographers are being recruited or retained, leading to delays.
The society said that as a result, 188,850 people in Northern Ireland are now waiting for a diagnostic test, which means treatment such as radiotherapy is delayed and cases become more complex.
It warned that for some patients, even a two-week delay can mean the difference between life and death.
Radiographers in Northern Ireland took part in a 48-hour strike in September.
Cora Regan, Northern Ireland national officer for the Society of Radiographers (SoR), said to strike is a "difficult decision", but members "need to do something now to improve the recruitment and retention of radiographers".
She said health workers should not be used as "bargaining chips", and insisted any pay offer for public service workers should be removed from negotiations related to the return of the Northern Ireland Assembly.
"The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has indicated that the public service pay disputes should be resolved, and that there is money available," she said.
"Healthcare workers should not be used as bargaining chips in a political game."
Ms Regan said radiographers in Northern Ireland are the lowest paid in the UK, adding that those in Scotland earn 12% more.
"Even in England, where SoR members have taken strike action to demand better pay and conditions, a radiographer's starting salary is more than £1,300 higher than it would be in Northern Ireland," she said.
"The pressure to increase working hours, coupled with low pay, means that many radiography professionals are leaving Northern Ireland - or the profession itself - and they are not being replaced in adequate numbers."