Nurses left in dark over festive hours
FED-UP nurses at Glasgow’s superhospital say they are still waiting to find out festive working hours with just weeks to go until the big day.
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde is accused of breaching its own policy, which states that staff should be provided with rotas four weeks in advance.
Staff say the delay has left them unable to plan festive events.
FED-UP nurses have hit out at Glasgow’s superhospital for leaving them in the dark about their festive working hours with just weeks to go until the big day.
It is claimed dozens of staff at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Govan are still waiting to hear what shifts they’ll be working in the run up to Christmas, making it impossible to plan events, such as pantomimes or nativity plays, as well as the day itself.
A nurse who spoke to the Evening Times anonymously said the issue has left workers feeling “disheartened” but pleas to bosses to sort the issue out have fallen on deaf ears.
She said: “There’s always an issue with nurses rotas, it has been an issue for years but, it’s got particularly bad in the last couple of years.
“If you know your shifts three weeks in advance, you’re lucky and that’s difficult at the best of times but at Christmas it’s really hard for trying to plan things with the kids.
“For those with young children it’s really heartbreaking. You can’t even book a panto.”
It’s not known how many wards are impacted by rota problems, but it’s understood to be a common problem among nurses at the hospital.
An NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde policy states, where possible, staff should be provided rotas four weeks in advance, which staff claim is breached on a regular basis by management.
“It’s been brought up time and time again,” the nurse of more than 20 years added.
“I don’t think it’s too much to ask to know if you’re going to be with your family on Christmas.
“There’s a policy that you should have your shifts one month in advance but it’s not enforced, all the other ones are but not that one because it doesn’t suit the managers.”
She added: “My husband thinks it’s ridiculous. If I knew I wasn’t going to be working, I would plan to have my family round but we just can’t organise that right now.
“At the moment the plan is for him and the three kids to go to my in-laws but that could all change.
“The uncertainty is an issue for everyone. My family can’t plan their Christmas because they don’t know whether or not to include me.”
Unison have backed the nurses’ plight.
Matt McLaughlin, regional organiser for the union, said: “People accept they have to work 365 days but they have the right to plan their lives.
“This comes into sharp focus at this time of year when people, rightly, want to plan time with family and loved ones.
“It’s disheartening the health board were quick to praise staff during the bad weather earlier this year but management can’t comply with a simple request within their own policy to prove how much they value staff.”
A spokeswoman for NHSGGC said those departments without Christmas rotas will be made aware of their shifts by the end of next week.
‘‘ I don’t think it’s too much to ask to know if you’re going to be with your family on Christmas
She said: “Our rostering policy requires us to have shift patterns issued four weeks in advance and all areas will be working out shift patterns in accordance with this policy.
“There are some departments who have made up their festive shift patterns already and this has been relayed to staff.
“Local managers are always fair and reasonable recognising that staff will want to take time off with their families, whilst balancing our patient needs.
“Without knowing the department these nurses are based it is difficult to check the status of their shift patterns but these should be available by the end of next week.”