Nurses and midwives are among the staff at St Helier hospital who are set to take part in a national public sector strike tomorrow.

They will be joined by therapists, radiographers, NHS professionals, medical secretaries and support staff working at St Helier and Sutton hospitals, according to union Unison.

Michael Walker, Unison nursing officer, said the union was working closely with management to ensure emergency cover was provided in all areas and patient care was not compromised. He said: “NHS nurses and staff are taking this action with a truly heavy heart, we are continually reviewing emergency nursing cover we will be providing and adapting accordingly."

"Unison is protesting because dedicated NHS staff are being expected to work until their 68 and pay more in contributions not into their pension scheme but into the treasury to bail out the bankers".

He said staff were not just demanding the NHS get a decent pension on the November 30, but that everyone secures decent pension and dignity in old age.

"I would urge local MP Paul Burstow to wake up on Wednesday and decide once and for all if he backs local dedicated nurses fighting for dignity, or the bankers."

Caroline White, Unison nursing representative said: "The attack upon our pensions, pay and cuts in the NHS are the biggest issue facing women since the campaign to secure votes for women - we are the new suffragettes."

Reacting to the threat of strike action, the hospitals' director of nursing, Pippa Hart said: “Our absolute priority is, and always will be, to provide our patients with a high level of care.

“As such, we have been engaging with all of our staff – including doctors, nurses, healthcare support workers, pharmacists, radiologists and our administrative staff – to make sure that we can continue to provide a safe service whatever the circumstances.

“We have robust contingency plans in place to ensure that, should strike action take place on 30 November, we are fully prepared to continue our work with minimal disruption to services.

“If we do need to reschedule any appointments, we will contact patients directly."

People who need to use hospital services tomorrow can keep up-to-date with the staffing situation at epsom-sthelier.nhs.uk or by following the hospital on Twitter at twitter.com/epsom_sthelier.”