Trust dithering delays pay justice for Gloucestershire phlebotomists

Healthcare workers at Gloucestershire Royal and Cheltenham General hospitals say they’ve been let down after senior managers yet again delayed a vital review of their jobs, says UNISON today (Wednesday).

Thirty-seven NHS phlebotomists, who specialise in taking blood samples, have been on strike for 105 days since March in a long-running dispute over fair pay.

Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust had promised the job evaluation panel would finally meet today. But earlier this week, hospital bosses announced the process would be delayed until next week.

UNISON says the workers have been wrongly placed on the lowest NHS pay scale for years, despite doing skilled tasks usually associated with a higher grade.

The phlebotomists have now extended their strike action until Sunday 27 July.

UNISON South West regional organiser Chris Roche said: “This delay is just the latest example of dithering and delay by the trust. It’s unacceptable that after promising to hold the jobs panel today, trust managers have moved the goalposts again.

“UNISON has been calling for the phlebotomists’ jobs to be assessed since last year. These employees do skilled work that should be paid at a higher hourly rate.

“Trust managers need to stop stalling, honour their commitments, and resolve this dispute once and for all.”

Phlebotomist and UNISON representative Caroline Hayhurst said: “Staff are exhausted and angry. After 105 days on strike, the hospital finally said the jobs panel would meet. But now it’s been pushed back again.

“Phlebotomists should not be on the lowest NHS pay grade. They use their skill, knowledge and experience to care for patients, and have been underpaid for too long.

“Workers are taking strike action because they’ve been left with no other choice. The trust should recognise the value of the work being done and pay its staff fairly.”