Operations delayed due to NHS strikes

Thousands of operations are to be delayed next week as a result of strikes by public sector workers who are unhappy about their pensions.

Some 400,000 nurses and healthcare assistants, as well as staff such as cleaners and administrators, are to walk away from their positions on November 30th.

Health secretary Andrew Lansley stated workers should not take action that will impact patients.

"I would ask staff to consider carefully whether going on strike is the right thing to do," he said.

But Unison's head of health Christina Nacanea said the decision to take strike action had not been taken lightly by public sector members of staff.

She told BBC News they will want to "ensure that there is adequate cover is in place and that patients' safety is not compromised".

A Department of Health spokesman told the Daily Telegraph that the number of operations being delayed as a result of the strike action by employees is to be low, suggesting it will be around 0.04 per cent.