More than 350 operating theatre staff set to strike across Greater Manchester

More than 350 operating theatre staff across four Greater Manchester hospitals are set to take strike action later this month.

The industrial action is scheduled to take place on 24, 26 and 28 August 2026 and will involve a range of staff working within operating theatre services, including nurses, support workers and housekeepers.

The planned walkouts have the potential to affect hospital services across the three strike days, with operating theatre teams playing an essential role in both planned and emergency surgical care. Hospitals will be expected to put contingency arrangements in place to maintain essential services and minimise disruption to patients during the action.

The dispute adds to continuing workforce pressures across the NHS, where industrial action involving different groups of healthcare workers has repeatedly highlighted concerns around pay, working conditions and the pressures facing frontline staff.

Operating theatres rely on multidisciplinary teams to function safely, with nursing staff, support workers, housekeepers and other employees all contributing to the preparation, delivery and turnaround of surgical services. The involvement of more than 350 workers therefore represents a significant period of coordinated action across the affected hospitals.

Patients with appointments or procedures scheduled for the strike dates should continue to attend unless they are contacted directly and told that arrangements have changed. Where procedures or appointments are affected, NHS organisations would normally contact patients directly with further information.

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