In Italy, a strike cooks in four Milan's major hospitals left thousands of patients without adequate food for - until the army stepped in.

SYNOPSIS: To ease the situation at one of the hospitals, the Policlinico, the Milan hospital Board called in the army to organise distribution of food. The Policlinico, which has 1,400 patients, had all its kitchen facilities closed by the strike, which began on Saturday afternoon (18 September). The strike, which included cleaning personnel and laundry workers, seriously affected 5,000 patients, especially those like diabetics who need special diets. Until the soldiers moved in, patients had to rely on relatives to bring them food and clean clothes. Army personnel began transporting the food to the Policlinico, and handing it over to nursing nuns who then look after its distribution. The strike started when hospital workers and administers could not reach agreement during negotiations for new wages.