Cleaning and catering staff walk out off coronavirus-hit Lewisham hospital

The GMB said the low-paid workers are "at the end of their tether" following weeks of short payments, and now private contractor ISS have failed to pay them at all.

The union acknowledges that this "could no have happened at a worse time" but that the ISS "now risks leaving wards uncleaned and meals unserved."

ISS, who partner with Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust to provide soft facilities management services, said they were "extremely sorry" for what had happened.

Responding to media coverage, Chris Ash, managing director of healthcare at ISS, explained that cleaning and catering staff had not been paid in full this month due to an administrative error.

"We have apologised to these staff and taken urgent steps to resolve this issue - making immediate additional emergency payments where there were shortfalls," he said.

“It is important to note that the issue has not affected the service we provide: we continue to maintain high standards of hygiene at the hospital, with cleaning, portering and catering services provided as normal to patients, staff and visitors."

Mr Ash said the error with pay affected a "limited number of staff who moved to a new pay system," and added that the company were reaching out to staff to apologise in person.

GMB organiser Helen O'Conor said that workers had "furiously" stormed off the job, leaving the "dangers of outsourcing in the NHS bare for all to see."

“For many of these workers missing just one pay cheque means not being able to pay the rent, or put food on their families’ tables.

“They are at the end of their tether following weeks of their pay being short - now today they get no pay at all."

She added: “This could not have happened at a worse time - we are facing a coronavirus pandemic and infected patients are now being admitted into the hospital.

“Meanwhile the people who are meant to be keeping the hospital clean and safe are not getting paid."