Union boss's anger over hospital 'begging' tactic

KEELEY KNOWLES

As part of its campaign ‘every penny matters’, the NHS Trust is urging employees to help avoid a £250,000 deficit and compromise its chance of becoming a Foundation Trust (FT).

The latest briefing sent out to staff encourages them to:

• Maximise the number of patients seen and treated

•  Only use disposable items if needed

•  Use cheaper drug alternatives if available

•  Dramatically reduce printing and photocopying

•  Switch off lights and computers.

Another ‘non-clinical’ activity included is that staff could buy their lunch from the Swannery or Bistro.

Unison is appalled at the ‘begging message’ to staff.

Regional organiser for the union, John Toomey, said that the Trust had already spent a ‘huge amount of money’ campaigning to get FT status A spokesman for the hospital said the figure spent this year on the FT application was around £18,000.

Mr Toomey said: “For the Trust to go to its staff with a begging bowl to scrape together so called savings and stating that this will make a difference to whether it gets FT status or not – well, if it wasn’t so serious it would be laughable.


He strongly urged union members and staff at the hospital to boycott the ‘latest move’ by the Trust.

Chief executive of the NHS Trust, Jean O’Callaghan, said: “For many months the Trust has sought and received the support of staff to save money where they can without compromising patient care to avoid ending the year in debt.

“Unison, I’m sure, understands that currently, those Trusts which do not make FT status will become part of an existing FT.