Specialist health workers who take patients’ blood have been striking for 236 straight days in what their union claims is the longest strike in NHS history.
The 36 phlebotomists claim the clinical nature of the tasks they perform means they should be on a higher NHS pay scale, worth an extra £1.09 an hour.
Bosses at Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust have refused to surrender to their demands despite staff at other hospitals successfully arguing their case without the necessity for industrial action.
Union Unison say it would cost the trust £60,000 a year to regrade the affected workers – a quarter of chief executive Kevin McNamara’s annual salary of about £245,000.
It is understood there were 37 phlebotomists on a walkout when the strike began on March 17, with one having returned to work.
Their work at Gloucestershire Royal and Cheltenham General hospitals is being done by other staff, such as nurses.
The union is providing financial assistance to those participating in the industrial action, although it only makes up a small portion of their income, which is now on the lowest level of the NHS pay scale known as Agenda for Change.
The length of the strike and the size of the rise they are seeking means they are likely to be significantly out of pocket even if they win their case, with sources saying their position is a matter of principle.
Christina McAnea, Unison general secretary, said: ‘It takes a lot of skill to put patients at ease and get them through an experience that makes many people go weak at the knees.
‘But these essential workers are unfairly being paid the lowest rate in the NHS.
‘That in no way reflects the very skilled work they do. Everyone apart from senior managers can see that this is wrong.
‘The trust should stop being so bloody-minded and pay these dedicated staff what they’re due.’
Kerry Baigent, Unison’s South West regional secretary, said: ‘The phlebotomists are standing up not just for themselves, but for every health worker who’s been undervalued and overlooked.
‘It’s time the trust listened and ended the longest strike of NHS workers in history.’
Ms McAnea will support the striking phlebotomists in a protest in Gloucester alongside TUC general secretary Paul Nowak, other union leaders, and employees.
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: ‘The Agenda for Change pay system is based on a Job Evaluation Scheme, developed through collaboration between NHS leaders, trade unions and independent experts.
‘It is the responsibility of individual NHS organisations and trade unions to work in partnership to implement the scheme correctly.
‘We have recently agreed to several measures to support this and restore confidence in the scheme, which are being taken forward by the NHS Staff Council.’
The job of a phlebotomist takes a specific amount of mastery. It’s more than a ‘sharp scratch.’ Getting someone who is skilled and in top form is a real blessing, especially for those patients who loathe needles or are difficult to get blood from, like me.
In my opinion, they should just lower managers’ salaries or freeze them so the money that they save can be used on lower-paid staff.
Sadly, the NHS is not fit for purpose, but at least we have an NHS; other countries do not, and we don’t want to give our government a reason to privatise.
Phlebotomists do a really good job, and it is a skilled job, but there are also other ancillary staff in the NHS that never get a mention, yet they are the necessary support in our NHS.
THE MONTHLY MOSQUITO 