Copenhagen  -  A strike by some 100,000 Danish nurses and other health care workers Wednesday impacted scores of hospitals, kindergartens and nursing homes across Denmark.

The Health Confederation that organizes nurses, midwives and laboratory personnel called the strike.

Some 70,000 of the Health Confederation's members were impacted by the labour action after state-mediated talks failed last week.

In addition, some 23,000 members of the union Trade and Labour (FOA) that organizes nursing home and kindergarten employees were also on strike.

Exceptions have been made for emergency services as well as crucial operations and treatments, but preliminary estimates suggested one in four nursing homes was impacted by the labour action.

Hospitals in central Jutland cancelled thousands of scheduled operations for the coming week, local media reported.

The unions were demanding a 15-per-cent pay rise for the coming three-year period while the employers offered 12.8 per cent.

The wage demands have been criticized by some unions fearing that future wage deals would be endangered, angering Connie Kruckow, leader of the Health Confederation.

Polls commissioned by the Berlingske Tidende and Politiken newspapers suggested strong public support for the wage demands. (dpa)