‘Stop killing off our nurses... the job is hard enough now’

BETSI UNDER FIRE OVER PLANS FOR NURSES TO WORK ‘FREE SHIFT’

HEALTH chiefs are under further fire over proposed rota changes for nurses as a petition against the move gathers thousands of signatures.

Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board bosses have defended themselves over proposals to “standardise shift patterns, handover durations, and break durations”.

Plaid Cymru chiefs have claimed that it will see nurses and healthcare support staff effectively working an extra shift per month through an extra half-hour unpaid break per shift.

They say a nurse currently working a shift of 12 hours and 30 minutes – with a half-hour unpaid break – will have to work the same shift, but only get paid for 11 hours and 30 minutes.

The party has launched a petition calling on the health board to think again on the proposals, which are out to consultation.

One person who signed the petition said: “Our goodwill will

only stretch so far, wards are already running with fewer staff and on occasions not having a break at all never mind an extra one we then have to pay back.”

Another added: “Stop killing off your nurses! The job is hard enough and usually they themselves can’t take the correct breaks for themselves let alone covering for others.”

Carrie Harper, Plaid Cymru county councillor for Wrexham, said it will make it harder to recruit to fill hundreds of current nursing vacancies.

“Betsi Cadwaladr currently has 500 nursing vacancies,” she said.

“Yet its management plans to introduce rotas for staff that will make it harder to fill those vacancies.

“Nurses are telling Plaid Cymru that they will retire early, cut their hours, take annual leave or even go to work for agencies if these proposals go ahead. “Nurses and HCSWs are at the front line of delivering a fantastic service across the north. They’re already working under immense pressure and many have told us that they have to take their breaks on the ward and are effectively on call despite not being paid for those breaks.

“Betsi is cynically trying to exploit nurses’ goodwill to have them stay on site for longer so they can save money on employing agency nurses.” Deborah Carter, the health board’s acting executive director of nursing and midwifery, said: “The proposal seeks to standardise shift patterns, handover durations, and break durations, across all our divisions.

“Key to this proposal is ensuring that staff receive adequate breaks, especially when they are working in longer shift patterns.

“This is to support staff wellbeing, enhance patient safety, comply with the Working Time Regulations and to comply with the Nurse Staffing Levels (Wales) Act.

“The proposals also provide an opportunity for us to reduce the reliance upon agency staff in the process.

“This of course has a patient care and staff safety benefit as well as a financial benefit.

“We recognise that changes to working patterns can be concerning to some staff.

“We are committed to working in partnership with our staff and trade union colleagues to address these concerns by undertaking meaningful consultation on proposed changes to ensure any final plans are made in full consideration of all viewpoints.”