UP TO 15,000 nurses, paramedics and other medical staff in Hampshire will walk out as part of a bitter dispute over pay.

Union members in the NHS will go on strike across the county on Monday, accusing the Government of showing “contempt” for workers.

The action, which will see picket lines go up at Southampton General Hospital, the Royal South Hampshire Hospital in the city and the Royal Hampshire County Hospital in Winchester, will run from 7am to 11am.

It is estimated that up to 15,000 workers in roles ranging from nurses, midwives and paramedics to administration staff and therapists could take part in the strikes in Hampshire.

The dispute stems from the Government’s offer of a below-inflation one per cent pay rise to staff for this year, and a further one per cent next year, which unions have refused, saying that only half of the workforce would benefit.

Members of Unison, Unite and the GMB will take part in Monday’s four-hour walk-out, alongside the Royal College of Midwives, which will take part in its first-ever strike action.

As well as striking on Monday morning, Unison workers will also take action short of striking from Tuesday to Friday by refusing to work through breaks.

Tony Jones, Unison’s head of health for the south-east, said: “NHS members don’t take action often or lightly. For many of our members this will be the first time they walk out, as the last action over pay was 32 years ago.

“The NHS runs on the goodwill of its workers, but this Government has shown utter contempt for them by refusing to give any pay increase to the vast majority this year and next.”

A spokesman for the Department of Health described the strikes as “disappointing”.

He said: “NHS staff are our greatest asset and we know they are working extremely hard.

“This is why, despite tough financial times, we’ve protected the NHS budget and now have 13,500 more clinical staff than in 2010.

“We want to protect these increases and cannot afford incremental pay increases – which disproportionately reward the highest earners – on top of a general pay rise without risking frontline NHS jobs.”

A spokesman for University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust said its “robust contingency plans” meant it is confident that services will “continue as normal”.

Nothing was expected to be cancelled outside of maternity services but some non-urgent and routine appointments and services will be held later in the day or rescheduled.

He said that in line with national advice, hospitals would be running a bank holiday service for the duration of the four-hour strike, with normal staffing levels at both the Princess Anne Hospital and the New Forest Birth Centre.

A spokeswoman for South Central Ambulance Service (SCAS) said that contingency plans were in place to ensure a “high quality and safe” service to patients. The service is working with partners to reduce demand on Monday so that resources can concentrate on emergency responses, but it is urging the public to call 999 only if essential.

She added: “This will ensure that we are able to continue to protect our patients and achieve an adequate and safe level of 999, 111 and patient transport service cover.”