Summary

NOTES: COL PRINT LOCATION: LONDON TITLE: HOSPITAL STRIKE SERVICED DATE: 02/02/79 NO: LNC 10920 DATE SHOT: 02/02/79 LENGTH: 53FT SECONDS: 1,25 SOUND: NATSOF DATE OF ARRIVAL: FILM SHOWS: CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL IN LONDON STRUGGLES TO MAINTAIN NORMAL CARE FOR PATIENTS AS HOSPITAL AUXILIERIES STRIKE FOR MORE PAY LEAD IN: PUBLIC SERVICE WORKERS ON FRIDAY (2 FEB 79) IGNORED BRITISH PRIME MINISTER JAMES CALLAGHAN'S APPEAL FOR GOOD CONSCIENCE AND MADE CHILDREN'S HOSPITALS THEIR MAIN TARGET IN THEIR FIGHT FOR MORE MONEY WORKERS AT THE QUEEN ELIZABETH HOSPITAL IN LONDON'S EAST END STARTED A 24 HOUR STRIKE A MINUTE AFTER MIDNIGHT THEY LEFT ONLY A SKELETON STAFF ON DUTY TO KEEP THE HOSPITAL RUNNING BUT THE STRIKERS' LEADERS WERE AT PAINS TO STRESS THAT THEY WERE STANDING BY IN CASE OF EMERGENCY FEET R/SECS 3 005 MS NURSES SERVE MEALS 14 022 MS CHILD IN COT (2) PAN WARD 19 030 MS CHILD WHEELED INTO OPERATING THEATRE 22 035 MS NURSE CARRIED BAG OF LINEN 25 040 MS PILES OF DIRTY LAUNDRY 27 043 GV LAUNDRY 33 053 MS NURSE CLEANS UP 36 058 MS PICKETS OUTSIDE 38 101 MS OXYGEN CYLINDERS 44 110 MS MOTHER & CHILD ENTER HOSPITAL 53 125 MS MOTHER SAYING GOODBYE TO CHILD COMMENTARY: BUT THAT DID NOT STOP THE DISRUPTION, AS NURSE AND SENIOR NURSING OFFICERS SERVED MEALS, COOKED DINNERS AND CHANGED LINEN THE CHILDREN DIDN'T SEEM TO NOTICE THE DIFFERENCE, HOWEVER, AS THE PROFESSIONAL STAFF ENGAGED IN THE MORE MENIAL JOBS NECESSARY TO KEEP THE HOSPITAL RUNNING BUT THIS APPEARANCE OF NORMALITY CANNOT LAST LONG - WITHOUT THE AUXILIARY STAFF, WHO COOK MEALS, SERVE THEM, CHANGE AND WASH BED LINEN, AND CONTROL THE MOVEMENT OF CHILDREN TO AND FROM TREATMENT CENTRES, THE HOSPITAL WOULD QUICKLY GRIND TO A HALT AS IT WAS, THE STAFF WERE HARD PRESSED TO KEEP THINGS GOING - SENIOR NURSING STAFF EVEN HAD TO SCRUB FLOORS PRIME MINISTER CALLAGHAN CALLED THE STRIKE LEADERS TO DOWNING STREET THE NIGHT BEFORE THE STRIKE IN A BID TO AVERT THEIR ACTION HE IS REPORTED TO HAVE LECTURED THEM ON THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES WHATEVER HE SAID, IT DID NOT WORK THE HOSPITAL AUXILIERIES ARE AMONG THE LOWEST PAID WORKERS IN THE COUNTRY; AND THEY ARE INTENT IN FOLLOWING THE EXAMPLE OF THEIR MORE POWERFUL TRADE UNION BROTHERS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR THEY HAVE BEEN RECEIVING PAY SETTLEMENT OF OVER 15 PER CENT; MR CALLAGHAN WANTS THE PUBLIC SERVICE EMPLOYEES TO SETTLE FOR FIVE PER CENT THE WORKERS ARE ANGRY, AND THERE IS NO SIGN THEY ARE PREPARED TO MODERATE THEIR DEMANDS