Hundreds of healthcare assistants at the University of Nottingham NHS Trust have voted for strike action in a dispute over pay, UNISON announced today (Wednesday).
Healthcare assistants at Queen’s Medical Centre and City Hospital are set to walk out unless hospital managers improve an offer on back pay. Across the trust, 94% of members backed strike action.
According to NHS guidance, healthcare assistants on salary band 2 of the Agenda for Change pay scale should only be providing personal care, such as bathing and feeding patients.
However, UNISON says most healthcare assistants have routinely undertaken clinical tasks, such as taking blood, performing electrocardiogram tests, and inserting canulas.
The union has set a firm deadline for the University of Nottingham NHS Trust to engage in negotiations, demanding a resolution by Thursday, 27 March, at 5pm. If no agreement is reached, UNISON will begin issuing strike dates.
Gareth Eales, UNISON East Midlands Head of Health, said:
“Healthcare assistants want to continue providing exceptional care to people across Nottingham. However, they need to be fairly paid for their work.
“The majority of healthcare assistants have been working well above their salary band for years. It’s time the Trust did the right thing and paid them properly for that work.”
Helen, a healthcare assistant in Nottingham, said:
“NHS staff risked their lives and those of their families to put others first during the pandemic, and continue to do so every day. But it’s clear the Trust doesn’t think workers are worthy of being paid what they’ve rightfully earned.”
