Latest news with #GloucestershireHospitals
BBC News
6 hours ago
- Business
- BBC News
Striking Gloucestershire NHS staff extend strike to 22 June
Medical staff who take blood samples have extended their current strike, which has now reached its 70th - staff who specialise in taking blood samples - at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital first contacted Kevin McNamara, chief executive, in September 2024 to raise concerns about pay, UNISON union said Mr McNamara still has not met the phlebotomists, who make 15p above minimum wage at £12.36 per hour, and that the strike will now continue up to 22 Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has been approached for comment, but previously said it "would like to sit down with the union and work this through". According to NHS guidance, staff with phlebotomist skills should be earning at least 77p more per hour that they currently do, UNISON union added a formal NHS job evaluation panel reviewed their case earlier this year, with the majority of panel members concluding the workers were on the wrong the union claimed, the panel was shut down by "senior trust managers" before a decision could be South West regional organiser Chris Roche said: "These trained specialists support patients with complex needs and take blood samples in challenging circumstances."They've shown incredible courage in standing up for themselves and have been through the correct process, but they've been met with nothing but excuses and silence."It's time for Kevin McNamara to stop hiding behind his senior team and meet with the workers affected. Patients and staff deserve better."
BBC News
14-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Hospital staff attacked 1,000 times a year in Gloucester and Cheltenham
Staff at two hospitals have been attacked more than 1,000 times a year in total in recent years, figures from a trust have revealed. And staff themselves have been involved in more than 100 violent or verbally abusive incidents on colleagues each year, according to the data from Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation an effort to reduce attacks at Gloucester Royal and Cheltenham General hospitals, the trust has bought 18 body-worn cameras for "hotspot" areas to de-escalate situations and pass evidence to police.A spokesperson for the trust said it was "committed to a safe, inclusive and respectful place to work and to provide care". In total, the trust counted 3,295 violent, aggressive or verbally abusive incidents over the last three financial years, for which it said the triggers number does not include the staff-on-staff incidents, of which there were 442 since 2022/23, according to the Local Democracy Reporting hotspot areas include the emergency department at Gloucestershire Royal approximately 50 per cent of incidents, the trust said, the attack perpetrator is recorded as having capacity, meaning they have the ability to use and understand information to make decisions.A spokeperson for the trust said staff were encouraged to report all incidents of violence and aggression so that action can be taken. Incidents are reviewed weekly by a behaviour standards panel, the spokesperson panel can issue behaviour warning letters, or conditional behaviour trust is also trialling the use of activity coordinators to support vulnerable patients who are more likely to become agitated when visiting hospitals.
BBC News
13-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
'Significant' £6 gender pay gap in Gloucestershire hospitals
There is a "significant pay gap" between men and women working in a county's hospitals, a new report to the Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust report men are paid - on average - £6 more per hour, although this is largely due to differences between male and female medical staff rather than all chiefs said excellence in care awards, from which male medical staff have predominantly benefited from, and 64% of bonus payments being made to male medical and dental staff are the main trust said it will be concentrating on ensuring fair career opportunities, supporting senior female staff, and reviewing pay structures. There is no significant gender pay gap among non-medical staff and they represent around 81.6% of the trust's workforce, according to the report, the Local Democracy Reporting Service non-medical staff, the mean pay gap is 0.62% in favour of men, while the median pay gap is -5.3%, indicating that pay equity exists for most staff, the report 399 bonus payments were made to medical and dental staff - 64% awarded to men and 36% to consultants earned an average bonus of £8,802.24, compared to £5,644.48 for women – a 35.90% pay report, presented to a board meeting, says 22% of its workers are male while 78% are female. But, while there is an average £6 an hour pay gap, this drops significantly when excluding medical and dental staff. When those staff along with their Local Clinical Excellence Awards (LCEA), are excluded from the analysis, the gender pay gap disappears."The significant pay gap seen overall is primarily influenced by the medical workforce," the report reads."The Trust's annual LCEA scheme, which rewarded consultants for outstanding care, ended in 2020."Funds were then equally shared among all substantive consultants, regardless of hours worked."
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Hospital trials virtual reality breaks for patients
Patients who spend a long time in hospital will be able to virtually visit some well-known Gloucestershire landmarks thanks to a new trial aiming to improve wellbeing. The project has been launched to allow some patients to "visit" places like Gloucester Cathedral, Puzzlewood or Symonds Yat through immersive 360 video headsets. Currently, the trial is available to patients in oncology and the department of critical care across both Gloucestershire Hospitals. "We look forward to partnering with more locations including Gloucester Cathedral and Gloucester Rugby, to enhance this offering further in the coming months," a Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust spokesperson said. More news stories for Gloucestershire Listen to the latest news for Gloucestershire Some patients struggle with long periods in hospital and its thought that having a break through virtual reality will help, reports the Local Democracy Reporting Service. "We have already curated a collection of stunning local hotspots and we are collaborating with businesses and organisations across the county to expand our library of content," a trust spokesperson said. "So far, we have had the privilege of working with Puzzlewood, Dean Forest Railway and Bristol Zoo Project to capture some breathtaking footage." Gloucester and Cheltenham hospital staff said they are excited to see the impact this initiative will have on patients' well-being. Patient consent is required to use the headsets. Follow BBC Gloucestershire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. NHS staff to strike over pay and grading NHS phlebotomists six weeks into strikes over pay Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Local Democracy Reporting Service
BBC News
11-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Gloucestershire Hospital trials virtual reality breaks for patients
Patients who spend a long time in hospital will be able to virtually visit some well-known Gloucestershire landmarks thanks to a new trial aiming to improve project has been launched to allow some patients to "visit" places like Gloucester Cathedral, Puzzlewood or Symonds Yat through immersive 360 video the trial is available to patients in oncology and the department of critical care across both Gloucestershire Hospitals. "We look forward to partnering with more locations including Gloucester Cathedral and Gloucester Rugby, to enhance this offering further in the coming months," a Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust spokesperson said. Some patients struggle with long periods in hospital and its thought that having a break through virtual reality will help, reports the Local Democracy Reporting Service. "We have already curated a collection of stunning local hotspots and we are collaborating with businesses and organisations across the county to expand our library of content," a trust spokesperson said."So far, we have had the privilege of working with Puzzlewood, Dean Forest Railway and Bristol Zoo Project to capture some breathtaking footage."Gloucester and Cheltenham hospital staff said they are excited to see the impact this initiative will have on patients' consent is required to use the headsets.
