NHS chiefs are making preparations now to ensure Shropshire’s hospitals run as normally as possible during a huge day of action by some of the UK’s largest public sector unions.

Hundreds of NHS staff in the county are members of Unison and Unite which are planning a mass national protest on November 30. Hospital bosses said they were uncertain how the protest would impact on services.

But, they revealed, they are already making plans.

Union chiefs have warned workers including police, firefighters, health employees, teachers and prison officers could take part in the day of action over the continuing public sector pension row.

It is not clear yet whether NHS nurses and doctors will take part in the action.

The Royal College of Nursing has said it will consider its options before deciding whether to ballot members and a meeting would be held today to discuss the issue.

Andy Rogers, spokesman for the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust which runs the county’s two largest hospitals, said: “I can confirm we are developing our contingency plans now.”

Ruth Tyrrell, associate director of human resources, at Oswestry’s orthopaedic hospital said hundreds of workers could potentially be involved in the action.

She told a hospital trust board meeting: “We have about 400 members of staff who are members of Unison and Unite.

“I understand they are getting ready for ballot for the day of action. We don’t know yet what that action will be. It could be purely a protest or it could be a type of work to rule, we just don’t know.

“We are making plans now. I am attending a contingency planning meeting next week to discuss it.”

Orthopaedic trust board members asked to be kept up to date with the situation.

The board was also told that a new drive would be launched to ensure as many nursing staff as possible stay clear of sickness this winter.

Members of the board heard hospital chiefs would be launching a major winter flu campaign to encourage staff to take up the offer of flu vaccines.

And the meeting was told the hospital is winning its fight to tackle levels of staff sickness.

New figures showed sickness absence levels have decreased to 3.08 per cent.