Radiology departments and cancer treatment centres at three Kent hospitals will be affected today as radiographers strike over pay for the first time in more than 30 years.

Diagnostic imaging and radiotherapy professionals who are members of the Society of Radiographers will be taking industrial action for four hours between 9am and 1pm.

Staff at Medway Maritime, Maidstone and Kent and Canterbury hospitals are among those taking part in the national protest.

Twenty members of staff at Maidstone Hospital's radiology department took part in today's strikes.

Speaking at the Hermitage Lane picket line, Sarah Naylor, a radiographer at the hospital, said: “This decision to strike was a very difficult one to make and one which we have not taken lightly. Patient safety is still our main priority and there is no way we would let people go without crucial treatment.

“The public support has been great, we have not received any negativity.

“The government keep declining to meet with us to discuss the situation. We had to take things a step further in order to open up constructive dialogue. Staff have come in even though they were not meant to be working.”

She added that whilst nothing was definite it was likely industrial action would continue until the government acknowledges the need for a meeting.

Another member of staff added: “We have dedicated our careers to saving patients lives so why would we allow industrial action to jeopardize that hard work?”

Emergency and urgent care will continue to be provided but pre-booked appointments and procedures may be affected.

CEO of the Society, Richard Evans said: “This is the first time since 1982 that radiographers have gone on strike over pay and there is the possibility of more action in the future. The anger that they and other NHS workers feel is very strong.

“The last thing that radiographers want is to hurt the people that they serve. Steps have been taken to minimise the impact on patients.

"This disagreement between NHS staff and the government has been going on for a long time and radiographers have lost patience with an employer that they feel does not value the hard work that they do."

Staff are concerned that if there is no improvement in pay, radiographers will find other careers, worsening current staff shortages and leaving patients with even longer waits to be seen.

There are also fears that students will no longer be attracted to the profession if pay continues to fall in value. The job requires three to four years of intensive training.

Members of the trade unions Unison, Unite and the Royal College of Midwives went on strike last Monday over pay.

Nurses, midwives, paramedics, therapists, cooks, cleaners, healthcare assistants and admin staff lined pickets lines outside Medway Maritime Hospital from 7am until 11am.

Strike action is being taken because of an ongoing pay freeze - the government rejected a recommended 1% pay rise for this year and has said that there will be no increase in 2015.

Radiographers will be working to rule for the remainder of the week, this will include taking scheduled breaks and not working unpaid overtime.