NHS workers across the South including those in Hampshire could go on strike over issues with their pay.

Trade union, GMB Union, says it is to ballot all members in 55 NHS trust across the south of England.

This includes members working for Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Solent NHS Trust, South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust and University Hospital Southampton Foundation Trust.

This comes after workers rejected what is being described as "a miserable pay cut".

More than 9 out of 10 GMB members in the NHS have rejected the Government’s pay offer of 3% which is being described as a pay cut by the union due to inflation, increases in national insurance and pension contributions and energy and petrol price rises.

The industrial action ballot will open on November 10 and close December 15 with any strikes due to take place in the new year.

Nick Day, Lead NHS Officer for Southern Region said: “When 94% of our members rejected this miserable pay award, GMB was crystal clear with Savid Javid; the Government needs to get around the table and improve this offer.

“The wall of silence we’ve received has left us no choice. GMB members will be asked to take formal industrial action and to give us a mandate by mid-December.

“We cannot be in a situation where those who dealt with the front end of the Covid-19 pandemic end up with less in their pockets after National Insurance increases, increased pension costs and the huge increases in energy bills and the cost of getting to work."

GMB has been campaigning for a restorative increase of 15%, or £2 per hour - whichever is highest - to replace what has been lost from NHS pay packets over the last decade.

It was the only union to reject the last NHS pay deal in 2018.

Mr Day added: “Enough is enough, we will never solve the staffing shortages if the government doesn’t wake up and smell the coffee.

“You cannot treat NHS and ambulance workers like this and expect no response.

“We are therefore asking GMB members to support this strike action so that we can get their pay up not down.”