2:08pm Saturday 24th July 2010
By Neil Docking
NURSES at Burnley General Hospital's axed Deerplay ward are having to reapply for their jobs, it has been revealed.
A UNISON organiser said members were 'incensed' over the changes to their shift patterns, pay and where they work.
Staff were told the changes will take effect in December when the ward is transferred to Royal Blackburn Hospital.
A children's minor illness unit will be provided in Burnley, open from 10am to 8pm from Monday to Friday, and from 12noon until 8pm at the weekend.
However, no child will be admitted after 6pm and sick youngsters who need to stay in hospital overnight will have to travel to Blackburn.
UNISON said nurses would drop from Band 6, a specialised qualified role, to Band 5, a non-specialised normal nursing role.
Tim Ellis, regional organiser for the union, said: “Staff are absolutely up in arms about this. They are incensed.
“It is clearly contained within the proposals a reduction in the care and support which the nursing and healthcare staff are to provide to these ill children, and that is a major concern to the staff involved.
“I will be very surprised if the staff want to accept these proposals.”
Bosses stressed suitable jobs will be found for all staff affected by the changes.
Simon Hill, associate medical director for the family care division at the trust, said the majority of staff were 'excited' about the move, designed to provide 'the best possible outcomes for patients by making the most of our facilities'.
Burnley MP Gordon Birtwistle said: “It's ridiculous. The health service is ring-fenced so the Government is not asking for cutbacks on frontline staff in grades or numbers, it is asking for efficiencies in backroom staff.
“I am surprised staff are being downgraded to do the same job.”
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