Hospital managers are planning to postpone thousands of non-emergency operations next Wednesday, because of the public sector strike over pension changes. Patients across the UK have been sent letters warning them of the disruption. Diagnostic tests and outpatient appointments will also be delayed, but hospitals insist emergency and critical care will not be affected. Managers say they are preparing as they would for Christmas or bank holidays. An estimated 400,000 nurses and healthcare assistants, as well as paramedics, physiotherapists, and support staff like cleaners and administrators have said they will join the action on 30 November over changes to public sector pensions.

An improved offer on public sector pensions could be withdrawn if an agreement is not reached, unions have been warned by the government. Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander, in the Guardian, also urged union leaders to persuade their members to accept the "generous" offer tabled. It comes as more than two million workers are set to strike on Wednesday over changes to public sector pensions. They include teachers, border control staff and some health workers. Unions say proposals which require their members to work longer before collecting their pension and contribute more are unfair. The government says change is needed to keep down the cost to the taxpayer, because people are living longer. Mr Alexander told the Guardian the strike action was "a distraction" to the ongoing negotiation process and "a risk to it" because "part of going on strike will harden opinions on the union side and might make it harder for them to sell a deal to their members".