Unions protest over health staff plan

HEALTH UNIONS will hold a protest today over a move to transfer hundreds of hospital staff into a private company set up by NHS bosses.

Members of Unison and the GMB unions will gather at Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust after bosses pressed ahead with the transfer of around 330 staff.

A ballot for industrial action has also been launched over the move, designed to cut costs. Porters and catering staff are among the workers being transferred. Similar plans have been drawn up at NHS trusts around the country.

Unison area organiser Sarah Keig said: “We are concerned that this will lead to a two-tier workforce. It is the lowest paid workers that this is happening to.”

Trust bosses said staff could retain their current terms and conditions or move to new arrangements. Chief Operating Officer Robert Harrison said: “The new company will be modernising pay, terms and conditions for new staff, which will ensure that it is competitive in the local employment market.”

Elsewhere, latest figures show the number of full-time staff working in the NHS in England increased by 1.5 per cent since 2016. NHS Digital said the number of doctors in training rose by 1,250, some 2.4 per cent. There were 1,490 more consultants, a 3.4 per cent increase. But the number of nurses and health visitors, excluding nurses in GP practices, fell by 0.2 per cent.

The Department of Health and Social Care said it announced an extra 1,500 training places for doctors and 5,170 more pre-registration nurse degree places.

A spokesperson added: “NHS staff are our greatest asset and whilst there are now record numbers working in the NHS, investing in our workforce will continue to be a top priority.”