Unite speaks out as ICU nurses strike over fire and rehire contract changes

The nurses fear the transfers are one more step towards Bassetlaw hospital losing its ICU permanently through ‘decommissioning by stealth’.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “An NHS Trust shouldn’t even be considering firing and rehiring its staff – it’s a disgraceful tactic that ought to be banned entirely.

“The trust’s intimidation has only reinforced the nurses’ determination to prevent Bassetlaw residents from losing a vital health service. They have Unite’s complete backing in taking strike action.”

Unite is considering legal challenges to Doncaster & Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust should it proceed with its plans to terminate the nurses’ current contracts and rehire them on new ones.

The trust claims the rotation plans are to increase the nurses’ exposure to level three patients (those who are ventilated or have multiple organ failure).

Unite claims the Trust’s proposal, however, would not guarantee increased exposure to Level 3 patients.

Unite believes the real reason behind the plans is to run down Bassetlaw’s ICU services.

The nurses began action short of strike action through a ban on working on any ward or unit other than Bassetlaw ICU on 13 November.

They will take strike action tomorrow (27 November) and Friday (28 November). Industrial action will intensify if the fire and rehire plans are not dropped.

Unite regional officer Chris Rawlinson said: “Unite has presented a cost-neutral alternative proposal to the trust that would guarantee nurses increased exposure to Level 3 patients. The trust’s rejection of this exposes what really lies behind its plans – the decommissioning by stealth of Bassetlaw’s ICU.

“The last thing our members want to do is strike. But they cannot accept proposals that would result in Bassetlaw patient services being run down and leave them with unsustainable commute times on top of the 13 hour shifts they already work.”