Water debacle is the latest in long line of hospital mistakes, says UNISON
Staff at Dartford’s Darent Valley Hospital are struggling to maintain safe hygiene standards in impossible conditions after more than a week without water, says UNISON today (Wednesday).
The situation has added to already intense pressures that have built up across the hospital and is the latest in a long list of systemic failures by Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust, the union says.
Caterers, cleaners and housekeepers are battling to provide services due to the lack of functioning facilities and that’s presenting risks to patients, UNISON adds.
The union is pressing the trust for answers about the handling of the incident. These include establishing when senior leaders first became aware of the problem and whether it has contributed to increased staff sickness.
Workers report that absences, including sickness, are no longer routinely covered by bank staff, leaving teams stretched thin and colleagues moved between wards to plug gaps.
The union says this is placing patient safety at risk and pushing already overstretched staff closer to breaking point.
UNISON also warned that further pressure is looming for staff, with car parking charges set to rise by around 30% from June under a new tiered system.
Lower-paid workers are among those acutely affected. While parking is not managed by the Trust, UNISON says only limited support is being offered to staff.
UNISON South East regional secretary Jo Galloway said: “For over a week staff at Darent Valley Hospital have been doing everything they can to maintain patient care in conditions that are simply unacceptable.
“Once again, it’s low-paid NHS workers, mostly women, who are expected to go above and beyond to continue providing the best possible support to patients.
“The only positive that can come from this situation is if the trust listens to the workforce. Staffing issues cannot be ignored any longer. Retaining skilled staff has to become a priority. That is essential to keeping patients safe.”