Endemic low pay threatens future of NHS, says union boss

Unison's Christina McAnea says winter strikes inevitable' as only way for workers to get message across

Endemic low pay represents a threat to the very future of the NHS, the head of the biggest union representing health staff has warned ahead of an expected wave of strike action this winter.

Strike action over pay seemed inevitable", said Christina McAnea, the general secretary of Unison, even though a formal ballot of staff in England, Wales and Northern Ireland only opens later this month, while the process is ongoing in Scotland.