Commenting on the two-day radiographers' strike starting today, Miriam Deakin, director of policy and strategy at NHS Providers said:

"Ninety per cent of people see a radiographer for acute diagnosis or treatment, including in A&E, cancer care and maternity services. The impact of this strike therefore cannot be underestimated – patients will be hit hard.

"This walkout marks the end of the most disruptive fortnight of strikes in the history of the NHS and will add to the snowballing ramifications of industrial action since December. The fact that this strike is going ahead also shows that some staff still feel dissatisfied with pay and working conditions despite the recent Agenda for Change pay deal.

"As with all strikes, trust leaders are extremely worried that the impact will not only be felt on the day itself, but also long after, as a lot of care could be postponed as a result. This would add to the care backlog, meaning trusts' progress to bring it down could be slowed.

"Trust leaders understand why some staff have felt pushed to strike after years of below-inflation pay lifts. For many of them, this will have been a hard decision to take. The government and unions must find a way to avert more strikes."