Unison claims the staff had been underpaid for years when carrying out multiple tasks above their pay grade. Healthcare support workers on salary band 2 of the NHS Agenda for Change scale should only be providing personal, according to NHS guidance.

However, healthcare assistants employed at University Hospital Lewisham and Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Woolwich were routinely undertaking clinical tasks such as monitoring blood, performing electrocardiogram tests and inserting cannulas, says the union.

​Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust managers made an improved offer after five days of strike action in September, which will see staff with two or more years of service moving to the top of the band 3 pay spine. This is worth an extra £2,000 a year.

Unison London regional secretary Jo Galloway said: ‘This is great news and important recognition for the dedicated staff at Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust who have been going above and beyond for years.

‘While strike action should never have been necessary, the healthcare workers' determination to win a fair deal ultimately brought the trust back to the table with the improved offer.'