Healthcare Assistants Strike In Co-ordinated Action Over Pay

Hundreds of healthcare assistants at Kettering General, Northampton General and Leicester’s hospitals have begun a three day strike in a row over pay.

The coordinated action comes after their union UNISON said it failed to receive a credible offer following talks with the Trusts responsible for the hospitals.

Healthcare Assistants on the picket line outside Kettering General Hospital

UNISON says health care assistants on salary band 2 of the Agenda for Change pay scale are routinely undertaking clinical tasks, when NHS guidance states they should only be providing personal care.

It is campaigning for them to be re-graded to salary band 3, alongside appropriate back pay compensation.

Dave Limer is the regional organiser for Unison and spoke to HFM from the picket line outside Kettering General Hospital:

Healthcare Assistants on the picket line outside Kettering General Hospital

Healthcare Assistants at Leicester General, Leicester Royal Infirmary and the Glenfield hospital have been involved in industrial action for several months, with colleagues in Kettering and Northampton joining the coordinated strike action for the first time.

The Trusts which oversee the five hospitals are led by the same chief executive, Richard Mitchell, and UNISON says all have failed to come up with a credible offer following recent talks with the independent arbitration service Acas.

University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust Chief Nurse, Julie Hogg, said: “We value the contribution of Health Care Support Workers at UHL and recognise the difference they make to patient care.

“We have robust plans in place to manage disruption to patient services during the action, and continue to engage openly with all unions to reach a fair and equitable resolution as soon as possible.”

Kettering General Hospital and Northampton General Hospital did not want to comment.