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Nurses, paramedics and NHS support staff stage a second round of strike action today over poor pay and conditions.
Union bosses say workers are "overworked and underpaid", with one in five forced to take an extra job in order to support themselves.
The walk out will last from 7am to 11am, and will be followed by six days of industrial action.
Union members will work to rule and not do any unpaid overtime until Sunday, November 30.
Nurses and paramedics are expected to be among those manning the picket lines today, alongside therapists, cooks, cleaners, healthcare assistants and admin staff.
"Most patients would be shocked to know that one in five of the NHS workers who care for them need to do a second job just to survive" Tony Jones, Unison
The strike is the latest action in protest at the government's decision to refuse NHS staff a 1% pay rise recommended by the NHS Pay Review Body.
Tony Jones, Unison's Regional head of health, said: "For many in the NHS, last month’s strike was a first. The next industrial action will be bigger as more unions will be joining it. Jeremy Hunt needs to listen to NHS workers who feel this Government is treating them with contempt.
"NHS workers are overworked and underpaid. Most patients would be shocked to know that one in five of the NHS workers who care for them need to do a second job just to survive and many have to borrow money every month to make ends meet or resort to foodbanks."
According to Unison, 68% of members voted yes to industrial action and 88% to action short of a strike.
Last month's industrial action was the first taken by NHS staff for 32 years.
Over the four-hour period the army and the police stepped in to cover, and similar plans are expected to be in place today.
A spokesman for South East Coast Ambulance Service said: "We have agreed plans with our unions to protect patients requiring emergency assistance.
"These include staff choosing to take part in the industrial action to continuing to provide ‘life and limb’ cover and, in the event of a major incident being declared, all members on picket lines returning to full duties immediately."
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