Union bosses say there is a staffing crisis at Derriford Hospital in Plymouth and patients are being put at risk.

They claim that some wards went uncleaned as support staff were pushed to their limit just trying to feed the hospital's 900 patients.

The GMB union is asking more than 200 members at Derriford to make their feelings known before any further vote on industrial action.

Militant mood

Gary Smith, GMB organiser for the South West, said strike action had not been ruled out.

He said: "There is a mood of militancy, which shows how bad circumstances have become."

Many support staff work for contractors ISS Mediclean, hired to clean and feed the hospital.

The hospital's trust said in a statement that they had won top ratings for cleaniness in recent audits and have in place random cleanliness checks.

They also say staffing levels are a matter for ISS Mediclean.

ISS Mediclean said: "There have been some staff shortages due to staff holidays and some sickness but our level of service has not been compromised at all.

"All ward areas of the hospital were covered by ISS employees and all normal services to the patients were carried out to a satisfactory standard by our dedicated team of employees.