Hospital strikes unhelpful: WA premier

Hospital support staff who walk off the job are not helping their case for higher wages and job security among casual employees, West Australian Premier Colin Barnett says.

Work bans started at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital on Wednesday, following similar action at Royal Perth Hospital a day earlier.

United Voice has warned the strike action will affect patient services including meal delivery and the cleaning of wards and patient beds.

Hospital support workers are also protesting the WA government's plan to remove a clause from their agreement that stops public service jobs from being privatised.