Patient safety first

Unite general secretary Len McCluskey joined biomedical scientists in Mid Yorkshire NHS Trust yesterday (March 22) on the third day of a week-long strike over patient safety.

The scientists, who work in blood sciences in the pathology department, have serious concerns over gruelling shifts that last at least ten hours. The work they do, which includes blood tests that assess, for example, liver and kidney function, requires them to make extremely important decisions that affect patient treatment and ultimately their lives.

The striking Unite members virtually unanimously voted in favour of strike action – which started on Monday (March 20) just past midnight and continues until Sunday at 11.59pm (March 26) – as they demand a fairer and more sustainable rota that protects patients.

“The scientists are at the very end of their tether,” he explained. “The problems have been compounded by the fact that such gruelling shifts have adversely affected recruitment and retention. The gaps are then filled with agency staff who are much more expensive and are often undertrained.”

Cunliffe said that this dispute was the continuation of a dispute over similar issues in recent years. He slammed management’s refusal to work with the trade unions to come to an agreement.

“We offered to suspend the industrial action to allow the continuation of Acas conciliation, but this was refused by the Trust,” he said.

Striking members have agreed to offer emergency, urgent in-patient, and cancer care cover throughout the duration of the strike.