South Tees NHS staff 'penalised' by holiday pay cut plan
Nursing staff are being "pushed financially to the edge" by an NHS trust which has proposed cutting holiday pay after increasing staff parking costs, a union has said. The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has criticised South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust's plans to cut holiday pay enhancement from 16% to just over 12.0%, saying it "directly penalises nursing staff who already prop up the NHS with overtime and extra shifts". In a "double blow" for staff, the RCN said the trust had also recently introduced an 8.5% increase in staff parking charges. The trust said due to financial pressures it could "no longer justify" having higher holiday pay than other trusts.
Senior RCN officer Sarah Hughes said the proposed pay cuts could be a breach of the 2019 Flowers legal ruling which found holiday pay must reflect "normal pay", including regular overtime, weekend work and enhancements. She added: "The trust has a clear legal and moral obligation to pay their staff correctly and in accordance with the agreed rate of pay."Cutting holiday pay will hit front-line nursing and support staff, many of whom already struggle making ends meet whilst the cost of living continues to skyrocket."It is fundamentally wrong."
'Incredibly demoralised'
The trust was also about to change its car parking contract which could "make onsite parking for staff more difficult" and result in "prohibitive fines", the RCN said. The trust previously said car parking changes would improve safety and reduce delays when exiting. Roaqah Shaher, RCN representative and a nurse at the trust, said: "These are the same staff who worked tirelessly throughout the Covid pandemic and went on to tackle the enormous care backlog afterwards. "Unsurprisingly nursing staff feel angry, let down and incredibly demoralised."The RCN and joint trades union have called on the trust to halt the proposed pay cuts, reverse the new car parking charges and parking contract change, and conduct a "full and transparent consultation" with union representatives. It also called for a review of financial pressure on staff, saying many were already using food banks or taking on second jobs.The trust said it was cutting its holiday pay rate "in line with other trusts across the region". A spokesperson said: "Current financial pressures mean we have to make some difficult decisions and we can no longer justify having higher holiday enhancements for overtime than our neighbouring trusts."We are sympathetic to the financial challenges our staff face, which is why we are introducing a pay-related parking tariff to our colleagues with reduced rates for band 2 and band 3 staff. "We are happy to engage with staff side colleagues to look at solutions for car parking and have asked them to work with their members and advise us of what assurances they would like us to consider."
Follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Herald Scotland
an hour ago
- The Herald Scotland
BBC Radio Scotland presenter Bryan Burnett announces cancer diagnosis
Speaking on air, he said the tumour was first discovered earlier this year while he was having surgery to remove his appendix. He said: 'Appendix cancer is incredibly rare but the good news is it is treatable, but I do have to have some fairly hefty abdominal surgery next week. Bryan Burnett interviews Samantha Kinghorn at the 2017 World Para Athletics Championships in London (Alamy/PA) 'It's going to mean I am going to be off work for a couple of months and you know how hard I will find that. However, I'm expected to make a full recovery, which is good news, and will be back on air, on the show that I truly love, later in the year. 'Those of you who are regular listeners know that we are such a close team on Get It On, so I also want to take this opportunity to say a massive thank you to my brilliant producers for all the hand-holding and encouragement they've given me since they found out my news. I'm sure they will let you know how I'm doing over the next few weeks.' In a statement he said his treatment will begin next week and will involve abdominal surgery and chemotherapy. Burnett said: 'I've experienced the most incredible care and kindness from the NHS staff who have been looking after me. 'My surgeon is a Get It On listener so I know I'm in good hands. 'I will really miss the music and the chat when I'm off but our listeners have given me hundreds of great playlists so that will keep me going over the next few months.' Broadcaster Grant Stott will step in to present the show in his absence. Hayley Valentine, director BBC Scotland, said: 'Bryan is one of our most popular broadcasters on Radio Scotland and I know listeners will join us in wishing him well as he embarks on his treatment. 'We look forward to welcoming him back to the Get It On studio once he's recovered.'
Scotsman
an hour ago
- Scotsman
Damp & Mould Action and Awareness Week to return for second year
The UK's first ever Damp & Mould Action and Awareness Week is returning for a second year - promising even more resources, expert insights, and practical solutions to combat one of the most pressing housing and health crises. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Following the overwhelming success of its inaugural year, it will return from October 20-26, continuing its mission to tackle the widespread issue of damp and mould in homes across the UK. This year's campaign comes at a crucial time, as landmark reforms are set to compel landlords to fix dangerous homes or face the full consequences of the law. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Awaab's Law, coming into effect from October, will require social landlords to investigate and remedy damp and mould issues within strict timeframes. Landlords who fail to comply will be held accountable in court, ensuring social tenants have the legal power to demand safe and healthy living conditions. Tony Boyle, Regional Director at Aico The law, a legacy of two-year-old Awaab Ishak, who tragically died after being exposed to mould in his Rochdale home, is a vital step toward transforming the safety and quality of social housing in the UK. Social housing residents in Scotland will also be given greater protection against damp and mould in their homes through the introduction of Awaab's Law. The Scottish Government intends to introduce amendments to the Housing (Scotland) Bill that will broaden Ministers' powers to impose timeframes on social landlords to investigate disrepair and start repairs, through regulation, following engagement with the sector. Launched by home life safety specialists Aico, the first-ever Damp & Mould Action and Awareness Week was dedicated to ending the scourge of damp and mould, and received widespread backing from MPs, landlords, housing professionals, and lobbying groups - earning recognition at the highest levels, including a commendation from the King. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad With an estimated seven million UK households affected by damp and mould, and the issue costing the NHS over £2.5 billion every year, the campaign has become a vital platform for raising awareness and driving action. Last year's campaign saw over 600 participants join expert-led webinars, with media coverage reaching more than three million people across press, radio and TV. It also received the backing of renowned architectural expert Professor Timothy Sharpe from the University of Strathclyde, a member of the government's SAGE advisory group during the COVID-19 pandemic, who specialises in indoor ventilation and transmission, as well as lobbying groups like Healthy Homes Hub and housing groups. As the campaign gears up for its second year, organisers are determined to build on its momentum, with an even greater focus on practical solutions, industry collaboration, and empowering residents with knowledge and resources. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Tony Boyle, Regional Director at Aico, said: 'The response to the first Damp & Mould Action and Awareness Week was fantastic, with huge engagement from housing associations, tenants and policymakers. 'But that was just the beginning. This year, we're aiming to reach even more people, spark more action, and continue making progress towards healthier homes for all. 'With the introduction of Awaab's Law, there will now be a legal mandate to tackle damp and mould with urgency. We want to ensure landlords, tenants and housing professionals have the resources they need to understand their responsibilities and take meaningful action.' Damp and mould produce allergens, irritants, mould spores, and other toxins that are harmful to health. The NHS spends an estimated £1.4 billion a year on treating illnesses associated with living in cold or damp housing. When wider societal costs such as ongoing healthcare are taken into consideration, the figure leaps to £15.4 billion. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'The scale of this issue is enormous, but by working together, we can make a real impact. 'We want to see policy changes, investment in housing standards, and a shift in how damp and mould are tackled at every level,' Tony added. For more information and updates, visit
BBC News
2 hours ago
- BBC News
Report accuses Norfolk and Suffolk NHS health trust of 'nepotism'
A report has uncovered allegations of nepotism and inequality at an NHS mental health study - led by former NHS equality director Yvonne Coghill - was based on the experiences of 100 members of staff at the Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (NSFT) and was commissioned by NSFT included evidence that the disciplinary processes for staff from a black, Asian and minority ethnic background (BAME) were "more draconian". Dr Faisil Sethi, NSFT's deputy chief executive, said: "While we have made some progress, we have much more to do to reduce disparity of experience and improve the lives of our colleagues from black and minority ethnic backgrounds." The workforce race equality report found staff felt there were significant discrepancies in recruitment, career progression, the disciplinary process and equal opportunities. It included allegations of "widespread and problematic nepotism" and a fear of speaking up or making staff felt there was no clear process for dealing with racist patients. In the report, NSFT's leadership was accused of not understanding race, and senior leaders were accused of not listening. In the report, Caroline Donovan, NSFT chief executive, said it was her aim to ensure everyone "regardless of background has the best possible experience of working here".She added: "NSFT, similar to many organisations, has challenges of racial disparity which need urgent and sustaining leadership." The report recommended NSFT held a conference about the findings, and conducted an audit of its application process. It said all board members must have a clear and deep understanding of the issues and leaders must listen to BAME staff and commit to being anti-racist. Dr Sethi added that race discrimination was taken "extremely seriously" at said the report was part of the trust's commitment to embrace "cultural diversity and racial equality". Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
