HOSPITALS and ambulance services across Sussex are bracing themselves for a third day of national NHS strike action.

Scores of nurses, midwives, paramedics, radiographers and other workers will be walking out on Thursday as a bitter row over pay continues to escalate.

The strike comes at a time when services are under extreme winter pressures and plans have been drawn up to minimize disruption .

Among the ten unions taking part are Unison, the GMB, Unite, the Royal College of Midwives and the Society of Radiographers, with members striking for various lengths of time at different parts of the day.

The strike is over the government’s refusal to give NHS workers a “cost of living” 1% pay rise.

In addition, there is now a threat to remove unsocial hours payments for staff who work at nights and weekends, which could lead to the average worker suffering a 23% pay cut.

Last ditch talks are continuing today between unions and the Government in an attempt to find a solution.

Caroline Fife, Unison south east officer, said: “In Sussex, NHS trusts are already struggling to retain and recruit staff.

“Strike action is a last resort but staff are having difficulty making ends meet and having to get second jobs.”

The walkout follows two previous days of action last year.

Unison, GMB and Unite members will walk out from 9am to 9pm while ambulance workers will either strike for 24 hours from midnight or 12 hours from midday.

Midwives will be out from 1pm to 3pm and radiographers from 8am to 2pm.

Pickets will be held outside hospitals in Brighton, Worthing, Haywards Heath, Crawley and Chichester.

A rally will be held at The Level in Brighton from 1pm with speakers including senior union representatives and members of Sussex Defend the NHS and Brighton and Hove Trades Council.

A spokesman for South East Coast Ambulance Service said: “In previous industrial action on this national rather than local issue, the vast majority of our staff, while supporting the strike, continued to respond to calls, providing life and limb cover to patients.

“While it is challenging, we have robust contingency plans in place to ensure we can provide a safe, responsive service to those people who need us.”

A spokesman for Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust said most areas would be unaffected but there were no planned caesarean operations or maternity clinics taking place for two hours and X ray and pathology departments would run a limited service.