Bedfordshire hospitals wrong to scrap operating theatre overtime pay

Operating theatre staff at Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust could be thousands of pounds out of pocket each year after their overtime pay was scrapped this week, says UNISON today.

Under nationally agreed guidance, employees have been paid time and a half for working beyond their contracted 37.5 hours a week.

But the Bedfordshire trust says it will no longer offer overtime pay to staff at Bedford or Luton & Dunstable hospitals. Instead, any theatre workers doing additional hours will have to sign up for ‘bank’ shifts* instead.

UNISON believes the change will leave experienced nurses or operating department practitioners around £120 worse off after an 11-hour overtime shift.

The change could also lead to more short-staffing and cancelled operations with a reduced incentive to pick up the extra work, adds the union.

Theatre staff urged senior managers to reconsider the overtime change last month, but the trust decided to press on. Staff are now considering whether to vote on strike action, says the union.

UNISON Eastern regional organiser Cathrine Ward said: “NHS trusts are under a lot of financial pressure, but it’s completely wrong for theatre staff to pick up the tab.

“These cuts risk undermining efforts to tackle waiting lists. Fed-up workers may well decide it’s not worth the hassle of picking up extra shifts.

“The trust must show it values staff and pay them the overtime rates they deserve.”