A protest against the “poverty wages” paid to certain staff at Watford General Hospital took place on Thursday.

Around 45 cleaners and porters employed by Medirest – the company contracted by the West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust to provide low-level workers at their various hospitals – stood on the picket line to register their dissatisfaction at their meagre wages.

Organised by GMB London - the union for staff in the health service - the protest is a challenge to the fact that workers at the hospital are paid just ten pence above the £7.20 per hour minimum wage.

READ MORE: Protest over low pay at Watford General Hospital

However GMB London organiser Mick Dooley said their concerns fell on deaf ears.

“Unfortunately the NHS trust which controls the hospital have not taken any notice of this protest,” he said.

“We will continue to protest next month but, unless we have our concerns addressed, we will not rule out industrial action, a drastic step many of our members will be loath to consider.”

Leaflets highlighting the issue of low wages at the Vicarage Road hospital were distributed from 11am on the day. Then at 12 noon, a small demonstration took place outside the hospital entrance, joined by workers from the hospital.

Mr Dooley added: "Many local Watford people are working in Watford General for a pittance, I cannot think of such low wages being paid in any other hospitals.

“Obviously someone thinks Watford people can exist on gruel because with only ten pence above the minimum wage of £7.20, gruel is about all the workers can afford after rent, council tax and bus fares to work.

“Quality patient support and fair pay to workers can be achieved in Watford General Hospital. GMB calls upon the trust to ensure that all workers in Watford General Hospital should be paid on an equal basis which is in accordance with the NHS Agenda for Change contract.

“Workers who maintain our NHS Services are not the property of the privateers and spivs. The NHS is our proud heritage and we should be ashamed to allow decent people to exist on ten pence above the minimum wage for a living working in our hospital.

“Patients deserve the best possible support available and that support should be fairly rewarded. The workers do not want to take strike action for higher wages because of their commitment to the patients so we hope the protest, which is part of an action plan, will begin to focus the minds of the decision makers and ensure that we can bring an end to poverty pay at Watford General."

Paul Da Gama, director of human resources and organisational development, said: “Our staff receive nationally set salaries which include additional payments to recognise that our proximity to London can make living costs high.

"In addition, employees are eligible to join the NHS pension scheme and receive a number of other benefits. We do not recognise the hourly figure being quoted by the GMB – all trust staff are paid more than this.

"We’re delighted that our recruitment has been incredibly buoyant this year, which demonstrates that we offer a competitive package and that people want to join us.”