Union-busting tactics by Doncaster and Bassetlaw NHS trust put intensive care patients in danger, Unite, the UK’s leading union, said today.

Intensive care nurses at Bassetlaw Hospital have been taking industrial action over fire and rehire contract changes that will force them to rotate between Bassetlaw and Doncaster Royal Infirmary.

The nurses - who fear the transfers are one more step towards Bassetlaw Hospital losing its ICU permanently through ‘decommissioning by stealth’ – have taken action short of strike through a ban on working on any ward or unit other than Bassetlaw ICU.

On January 8, a critical care doctor from Doncaster Infirmary, who Unite is not naming, contacted Unite and informed the union that they had been told to discharge a patient early. The doctor said this was against medical advice and was done in order to reduce the number of patients on the intensive care unit.

A spokesperson at Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals said: Patients are discharged only when clinically appropriate, and clinical decision-making is never overridden for operational reasons, with robust clinical governance arrangements in place to ensure this. Throughout the period of action short of strike, the Bassetlaw ITU remained safely staffed, supported when needed by colleagues from Doncaster Royal Infirmary, and operating within safe capacity."

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Zara Jones is presiding over the worst case of union-busting Unite has ever seen in the NHS. The attempts to force the nurses to back down by banning them from their duties and withholding their pay and intimidating them, is abhorrent.

“This is a total dereliction of duty that put incredibly vulnerable patients at risk. The trust needs to stop its appalling behaviour and resolve the nurses’ concerns – Unite will not back down until that happens.”

The trust issued notices of dismissal to Bassetlaw ITU nurses on 22 December 2025. They intend to sack the nurses on 16 March 2026 and rehire them on the 17 March 2026 on less favourable terms and conditions.

As well as concerns that the forced rotations would lead to Bassetlaw’s ICU being run down, they would also leave the nurses facing overly long commutes before and after 13-hour shifts, with the risk of exhaustion putting them and their patients at risk.

Unite regional officer Chris Rawlinson said: “Prior to issuing the redundancy notices, the trust proposed a trial period instead of fire and rehire, which the nurses agreed to in good faith. However, the trust then reneged on its own offer and told Unite it preferred to fire and rehire the nurses.

“These are hardworking healthcare professionals who are dedicated to caring for the people of Bassetlaw. They are being treated horrendously and Unite will continue to fully support them in their fight to prevent the town’s ICU from being decommissioned by stealth.”

A Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals spokesman added: "We are disappointed that Unite has made claims which do not accurately reflect the situation and risk causing unnecessary concern for patients and the local community.

“The Trust fully respects the right of colleagues to take lawful industrial action. However, some colleagues have chosen not to undertake contractual duties, including temporarily supporting other ward areas when patient numbers in ITU are low. Where individuals chose not to carry out these duties, they were advised not to attend work until they were willing to meet their contractual obligations, in line with national NHS terms and conditions.

"Maintaining specialist critical care skills requires regular experience caring for the most seriously ill patients, and a short, reciprocal rotation between Doncaster Royal Infirmary and Bassetlaw Hospital is the safest and most effective way to maintain those skills.

"Suggestions that these proposals are intended to reduce or remove critical care services at Bassetlaw Hospital are incorrect. The rotation operates both ways, with colleagues moving between Bassetlaw Hospital and Doncaster Royal Infirmary, and is designed to safeguard the long-term future of critical care services in Worksop and surrounding areas.

"At all times, patient care and safety have been our paramount concern, and services have continued to operate safely and fully staffed throughout this period, including during periods of industrial action."