UNISON has reassured people in Derbyshire that health care staff will "not put people at risk" during a four-hour strike over pay,
Several unions that represent NHS staff in Derbyshire, which affects ambulance staff, nurses, midwives and porters, will take part in the action on Monday, October 13,
David Godson, regional manager and head of health for Unison East Midlands, said: "Health care staff are dedicated to the roles that they do. They will not people at risk."
He said unions were suggesting to employers that the services offered on October 13 should be the same as at Christmas or on a Bank Holiday.
Mr Godson said: "There are certain services that wouldn't run on a normal Bank Holiday such as routine appointments."
He said that the unions who had agreed to the strike so far included his own, GMB, Unite, midwifery union RCM and the Society of Radiographers.
Ministers have given NHS staff a 1% increase, but not for those who get automatic progression-in-the-job rises.
These are designed to reward professional development, are given to about half of staff and are worth 3% a year on average.
But the decision by ministers went against the recommendation of an independent pay review board, which had called for an across-the-board rise.
Unite said on its website on September 26 that its members had said yes to the strike.
But an East Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said his organisation was still waiting to hear officially from that union.
He said: "As things stand, it is not entirely clear what form of industrial action the unions will take or the impact it will have on our service. However, we have developed a contingency plan to mitigate the impact on front-line services and will be able to fine-tune this as soon as we have a full understanding of the position."
A spokesman for Derby Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said its first priority would be to provide safe services to patients.
He said: "Each department has in place a contingency plan for industrial action.
"We will be working with trade union representatives to ensure essential services are not disrupted.
"Those staff who participate in strike action will not be paid for the four-hour period of the strike."
The action on October 13 will take place from 7am to 11am.
From Tuesday to Friday that week, staff will be encouraged by their unions to take the breaks they are due rather than working through.
