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Blood tests will be halted at Reading hospital unless bosses address unsafe staffing levels, the Unite union warned yesterday.
Staff at Royal Berkshire hospital say they will no longer process outside blood tests from next Friday after the Unite workers voted for industrial action in a dispute over staffing levels and patient safety.
Unite said the action will involve its members refusing to process any samples not from the hospital itself - affecting tests from Berkshire GPs and others, including private hospitals.
"They believe that by restricting the amount of tests that they perform to those patients within the hospital, this will still ensure that patients in the hospital will get the appropriate care," said Unite regional officer Debbie Watson.
"Unless the trust introduces measures to address our members' concerns over reduced staffing levels and patient safety, they will be taking industrial action from April 25."
