Hospital warned over unsafe staffing levels

A Kent hospital trust has been warned about unsafe staffing levels in its operating theatres in an escalating row over pay, the BBC understands.

Nursing staff at the Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital (QEQM) in Margate have warned managers about staffing levels during operations.

It comes after the NHS across Kent and Medway reduced rates paid for so-called "bank" shifts, which are flexible, as-needed shifts needed to cover staffing shortages.

East Kent Hospitals NHS Trust (EKHUFT), which runs the QEQM, said it had listened to staff concerns, and that staffing on all shifts "met national guidelines".

Staff at the trust told the BBC that with fewer colleagues accepting "bank" shifts there were issues with finding enough people to fully staff operating theatres.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, one staff member said their colleagues were considering strike action.

"We feel we're being bludgeoned by the trust," they said.

"It is bullying and isolation tactics."

Another contacted the BBC to say: "This does not make sense in any shape or form. Why would staff want to do OT (overtime) on a weekday for lower pay?"

At the end of June the trusts' chief nurse and senior nursing team held talks with staff to "discuss concerns... regarding safe staffing within the operating theatre environment".

However, the BBC has been told that staff are unofficially boycotting bank shifts in East Kent.

NHS organisations in Kent and Medway agreed a consistent approach to rates paid for extra shifts earlier this year.

Previously, rates had varied between organisations, which meant staff could be paid different amounts for similar work, and NHS bosses argue the new arrangements bring greater consistency across Kent and Medway.

However the decision has led to anger among staff.

Nursing and midwifery staff at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells Wells NHS Trust said a cut to bank rates has left them feeling "disrespected, unappreciated, isolated, angry, upset and frustrated".

Cess Wigley, senior regional officer at the Royal College of Nursing warned there was no slack in the system.

"With bank rates cut, staff are choosing not to work these shifts which will inevitably lead to unsafe staffing levels," she said.

"Not only are nurses suffering with the decision to cut the rates, but patients will also see even longer waiting times or in a worst case scenario, long-waited for operations could be cancelled."

"None of this is acceptable and we urge management to work with us to reinstate the bank rates and work towards building back the morale and trust of nursing staff."

Sarah Hayes, chief nursing officer at EKHUFT said the trust would continue to keep staffing levels under regular review and to work with staff to ensure the trust provides safe, high-quality care.

"The county-wide temporary staffing pay rates were introduced to provide a fair and consistent rate of pay across all Kent and Medway NHS trusts," she said.

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