NHS staff 'disgusted' by overtime pay cut

Hundreds of staff at a Kent hospital trust have expressed their fury at an NHS decision to reduce the amount paid for extra so-called "bank" shifts and have begun an unofficial boycott in protest.

NHS bank staff work on a flexible, as-needed basis to cover staffing shortages within NHS trusts either as extra shifts or as bank-only staff.

Nursing and midwifery staff at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells Wells NHS Trust say a cut to bank rates has left them feeling "disrespected, unappreciated, isolated, angry, upset and frustrated".

A spokesperson for the trust said the decision to cut rates had been agreed across the county for a "consistent approach to rates paid for extra shifts".

An anonymous survey of more than 600 staff at the trust was conducted by the Royal College of Nursing (RCN).

Comments from staff have been seen exclusively by the BBC.

One said: "It feels like no one cares about us or the patients - we are already severely understaffed most shifts and there is no hope of filling bank shifts with these changes."

Another staff member working in A&E said they felt "undervalued".

They added they were being asked to do extra shifts in the department "but now the money is going down I won't be wanting to help".

Another responded: "It's disgusting, we work extra hours because the base pay isn't enough to support a family and now they are cutting that to less than substantive rates.

"We won't be able to afford to give our children the future they deserve."

Many of those who took part in the survey highlighted that as a consequence the hospital would be "even more understaffed than normal".

Cess Wigley, RCN senior regional officer for Kent described cutting bank pay rates at a time when the cost of living was rising was a major blow to staff.

"Bank shifts have a huge impact, particularly to some of the lower paid staff, and many rely on these shifts to make ends meet.

"There are also serious concerns that less take up of bank shifts will mean patient safety and quality of care is compromised," she says.

"We are now in the process of lodging a collective grievance with each of the trusts."

A spokesperson for trust said: "We recognise that some colleagues are unhappy about these changes and we are continuing to listen to their feedback.

"NHS organisations in Kent and Medway have agreed a consistent approach to rates paid for extra shifts.

"Previously, rates varied between organisations, which meant staff could be paid different amounts for similar work. The new arrangements bring greater consistency across Kent and Medway," they said.

"Our priority is providing high-quality care for patients while supporting staff through these changes. We are keeping staffing levels under close review."

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