The NHS phlebotomist strike at two Gloucestershire hospitals is set to continue after specialist health workers rejected proposals that would have ended the longest strike in NHS history, now approaching 300 days.
A total of 37 phlebotomists, who specialise in drawing blood from patients, walked out of Gloucestershire Royal Hospital and Cheltenham General Hospital in March 2025 amid a dispute over pay and job grading. Members of Unison were balloted on two options designed to bring the prolonged industrial action to an end, including a one-off payment to compensate for lost back pay.
Despite Unison recommending acceptance, union members voted to reject both proposals, a highly unusual move that has pushed the dispute into uncharted territory.
Talks ongoing but no agreement reached
Unison South West regional secretary Tim Roberts confirmed discussions were continuing with the employer, Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
“I can confirm that talks are taking place between Unison and Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust,” Roberts said. “Phlebotomists remain hopeful that progress can be made through these discussions so that they can return to the job they love.”
However, the failure to reach a settlement means continued uncertainty for patients, particularly those with medical conditions that make blood sampling difficult and require experienced phlebotomists.
Pay banding dispute at heart of walkout
The dispute centres on the classification of phlebotomists at Band 2 under the NHS Agenda for Change pay framework. Unison argues this does not reflect the skill, responsibility and clinical expertise required for the role, and that phlebotomists should be paid at Band 3.
Kevin McNamara, chief executive of the trust, said management had offered a new “higher-banded” role as part of efforts to resolve the strike. The second ballot option, also rejected, would have seen the dispute referred to a national independent panel to reach a binding decision.
Previously, McNamara said a national campaign to reband healthcare support workers from Band 2 to Band 3 did not include phlebotomists, complicating efforts to resolve the dispute locally.
Trust defends service changes during strike
The trust’s director of people, Claire Radley, said she was “really surprised” and “a bit disappointed” by the ballot outcome, noting that both proposals had been developed collaboratively with staff and Unison.
Radley said the union was now seeking Band 3 pay without going through an independent panel and wanted services returned to their original location rather than being delivered through outpatient settings.
“During the industrial action we have learned lots about the provision of phlebotomy services,” she said. “We have developed a model which means we are getting patients out of the hospital much earlier as a result of the bloods being available much earlier, and it is a better outpatient experience.”
Workers warn of risks to patient care
One striking phlebotomist, who asked to remain anonymous, said staff had recently learned that the trust wanted to dismantle their department and replace the specialist role with healthcare assistant positions.
“Forcing us to become healthcare assistants will impact the quality and level of care that patients ought to rely on,” the worker said. “For patients who are difficult to bleed, they know they need a trained phlebotomist.”
“The fight is no longer about fair pay. This is about preserving a level of care that everybody should be entitled to.”
Longest NHS strike highlights wider workforce pressures
The dispute is now the longest strike in NHS history, underscoring wider pressures on the health service around staffing, pay bands and the recognition of specialist clinical roles. Across England, unions have warned that failure to properly value skilled support staff risks undermining patient care and increasing recruitment and retention problems.
The trust said it is considering its position and will respond formally to Unison within the next week, as patients and staff await signs of a breakthrough.