Staff at hospitals across the region will join their colleagues nationwide in a 12-hour strike over pay on Thursday.

There will be picket lines outside the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, King's Lynn, and the James Paget University Hospital, Gorleston.

Union leaders claim few staff will be eligible for a 1pc pay rise agreed by the government earlier this year.

They also claim the increase will not count towards pension entitlements.

Harry Seddon, Unison branch secretary at the N&N, said: 'The expectation is that all hospitals in the eastern region will be taking part in the industrial action. The strike will run from 9am to 9pm, followed by staff working their contracted hours only and taking their breaks.'

Unison nurses, radiographers, laboratory staff and staff from the Royal College of Midwives will be among those taking part in the strike, he said.

Darren Barber, Unison QEH branch secretary, said: 'The NHS is facing challenges so by telling more than half the workforce they are not worth a pay rise will not help to mend relationships that have been strained by re-organisation over the past few years.'

A Unison spokesman for the James Paget said that routine operating lists were cancelled on Thursday, with a minimum, but safe, service provided across the rest of the trust.

Dorothy Hosein, chief executive officer at the QEH, said: 'Appropriate measures are being put place to ensure the effective operation of the hospital.'

Jeremy Over, director of workforce at the N&N, said: 'We would like to reassure patients that nearly all hospital services will be running as normal on Thursday, including all of our emergency services.'

Will you be striking on Thursday? Email david.bale2@archant.co.uk