INDUSTRIAL action over an ongoing dispute with hospital bosses about staff levels and patient safety has been called off.
A total of 40 pathology staff who test blood and other specimens at the Royal Berkshire Hospital were due to take action from tomorrow after the Trust decided to move them onto a 24/7 shift pattern.
Laboratory staff who are members of Unite planned to stop testing samples from outside the hospital, meaning GPs and private hospitals had to send their samples elsewhere.
Concerns were raised about lack of qualified staff during out-of-hours periods, backlogs of work and fears that tired workers could make mistakes.
But speaking this afternoon, hospital spokesman Joe Wise said: The industrial action planned for tomorrow by unite members will not be taking place. Â Discussions with staff are continuing."
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