Shifts fury of Royal nurses

Janine Dyson, RCN regional officer.

NURSES at the Royal Oldham Hospital are angry over proposed shift changes which could see them forced to work on their days off.

The Pennine Acute Trust is planning to standardise shift patterns for all nursing staff across its hospital sites in Oldham, Rochdale, Bury and North Manchester.

Staff would effectively work shorter days but would be forced to make up owed hours by working an extra day every few weeks.

The move would save the Trust £1.49million a year — but the Trust has denied it is a money-saving measure, rather a way of providing better quality and safer service to patients.

However, the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) said that its members are furious with the planned changes which could force some staff to leave their jobs.

Janine Dyson, RCN regional officer, said: “3,700 registered nurses and healthcare support workers across all different wards will be affected, which is nearly 40 per cent of the workforce. But one size does not fit all. As well as standardising shifts, its is planning to reduce hand-over periods between shifts.

“This is an essential period of time where staff make sure ongoing care is delivered, especially for more complex patients, and is absolutely critical for the safe delivery of patient care.

“This will see nurses staying behind after their shift has finished to ensure the hand-over is complete.”

Mrs Dyson said owing the Trust work time will cause problems with people who are carers or who have children, and will see them fork out the cost of travelling into work an extra day.

She said the RCN will be holding a series of meetings over the next four weeks with their 2,500 members and are in discussion with the Trust.

She said: “Nurses are really distressed about the plans.

“What the Trust has suggested is not acceptable, from a safety point of view or from the Trust looking after its staff.

“It’s ludicrous, people will be forced to leave the profession because they will be asking themselves ‘Is it financially viable to come to work?’

“Tired nurses are when mistakes happen.

“If these proposals go ahead as they are, we will consider the strongest form of action.”

One nurse, who did not want to be named, said: “The general consensus on the wards is that everyone is opposing it.

“For people who’ve got children or families, it’s going to be really difficult for them.

“At the staff meeting where we were told about the changes, people were up in arms.”

A Trust spokesman said the changes would mean more regular shift patterns between wards and fewer changes of staff during the day.

Savings would be made by reducing the number of agency and bank staff needed during hand-over hours.

He said the changes were driven by the Trust’s own Transforming for Excellence improvement programme to improve quality of care.

Marian Carroll, director of nursing at the Trust, said: “We are currently consulting with our nursing staff on the proposals.

“No decision has yet been made or arrangements agreed as we are one week into a 90-day formal consultation.

“Briefing sessions have been held for nursing staff on wards affected by the proposals and constructive meetings have taken place with staff side representatives, including those from the RCN, to explain our proposals and to hear their comments and views.

“We are keen to work closely and involve our staff in these proposals.”