Strike action affecting services in south east London

UPDATE: Industrial Action stood down for Monday and Tuesday 16-17 December. Talks between the Unite the union and Synnovis continue ahead of scheduled industrial action from Wednesday 18 December up to and including Friday 20 December.

Members of the Unite union who work at Synnovis are planning to strike on 16-20 December (inclusive). Synnovis provides pathology testing services – eg. blood and urine tests – to GP practices, hospitals and other NHS services across south east London.

This action is expected to have an impact on local NHS services where pathology testing is an important part of the clinical care being provided. Synnovis has requested agreement from unions about the essential services to be protected from strike action.

All partners are working hard to make sure that essential pathology services can be provided to allow urgent, emergency and essential patient care to continue on strike days. However, to help safely manage the impact of the strikes, it may be necessary to postpone a number of non-urgent appointments, including blood tests, and hospital procedures scheduled on strike days.

If you have an appointment with a GP practice, hospital or other clinic, please make sure you go to it unless you are told not to.

If appointments or treatments need to be cancelled, you will be contacted. Please do not contact your GP, hospital or clinic to check – they will contact you.

We recognise the concern and frustration that this strike action will cause, and thank you for your understanding.

More information will follow as it becomes available.