More than 20 striking physiotherapists are on picket duty outside Medway Maritime Hospital today.

They are all members of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy.

Spokesman Darren Freeman, 30, from Hoo, said: “We don’t want to be here but the current pay award does not cover the cost of living increases which means members are struggling.

“We already have problems recruiting and retaining staff because of the low pay which limits safe staff numbers and impacts on patient care.”

Many drivers, especially of buses and ambulances, honked their support outside the Gillingham hospital.

Mr Freeman praised hospital management for understanding.

He said: “Our argument is with the government.”

Members of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapists (CSP) are striking at 30 NHS organisations including Medway NHS Foundation Trust.

A spokesman for the hospital said: "We value our colleagues and respect their right to strike. While pay is a matter for Government and the trade union we want to see a resolution as soon as possible."

He added: "We want to reassure our patients, their families and carers that our priority is to continue to provide safe care for those who need it during the strike action."

The hospital says an emergency respiratory on-call service is in operation allowing critical work to continue but warned that non-critical work including initial and post-operative assessments, rehabilitation and some discharge assessments may be delayed.

The spokesman said: "While we understand this may be frustrating, especially for those who are delayed from being discharged home, the decision is necessary to ensure safe care continues to be available for all patients. The therapy teams will work to ensure that any inpatients requiring assessment will be seen as quickly as possible after Thursday."

Outpatients with appointments today were told to attend as planned unless they heard differently.

The hospital stressed that its Emergency Department remained open.

Nationally, more than 4,200 CSP members had been called to strike.

Claire Sullivan, CSP director of employer relations, said: "We know taking strike action is an absolute last resort for CSP members but NHS staff not only deserve better pay but also desperately need it during this cost of living crisis.

"This dispute will protect patient services both now and into the future. It’s essential that the government comes up with an improved offer to avert further strikes and demonstrate they understand the scale of the problem."

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