A HOSPITAL chief executive has donned overalls and rubber gloves to help clean wards as a week-long strike started yesterday.

More than 200 hospital cleaners at South Tyneside District Hospital have walked out this week in a dispute over pay.

The seven-day strike, which follows two one-day strikes, has forced managers and supervisors to become cleaners.

Chief executive Lorraine Lambert was one of 70 managers and supervisors to sign up for cleaning duties.

Yesterday, she joined senior colleagues who took turns to clean toilets, wards, operating theatres, corridors and waiting rooms. Bosses are determined that the walk-out will not affect patient care at the 600-bed hospital.

Stephen Foster, director of facilities at the South Tyneside trust, said: "All the management and supervisory staff have had a training session. We have overalls, rubber gloves and all the equipment we need."

Mr Foster said the trust was "disappointed" that staff were striking and criticised Unison and GMB unions for refusing to provide emergency cover.

In a statement issued by the trust, officials said: "We are disappointed that domestic staff will commence a week long strike from Wednesday, August 9 despite the offer of a 12.9 per cent increase to their hourly rate of pay, rising to 19.2 per cent next year."

Keith Blackburn, Unison regional officer, accused the trust of refusing to accept the results of a pay and grading review. He said emergency cover was not offered "because it didn't sound as if they needed us."