LABORATORY assistants at a Yorkshire hospital began a week-long strike yesterday over appalling work pressures and rotas that are causing sickness rates to skyrocket, writes Peter Lazenby.

The 18 members of public-service union Unison work at Pinderfields Hospital in Wakefield, which is run by Mid-Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust.

The staff said they were “under enormous strain because there are not enough staff to do the necessary work.”

Unison regional organiser Jim Bell said: “The shortages are having a very bad effect on our members. Sickness levels are soaring and some staff are being forced to leave the job because of the enormous pressure they are under.”

The laboratory assistants prepare blood samples and other bodily fluids for scientific tests.

During the strike, the staff are providing emergency cover to protect patients, but they threw out bosses’ plans to bring in temporary locums on zero-hours contracts.

Strike action by the laboratories’ scientists, who are mainly members of Unite, has been suspended pending proposals from management.

The scientists also have complained of unacceptable pressure of work and shortages of staff.