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NHS staff protest against subsidiary jobs transfer

BBC A group of about 20 protesters outside the hospital in Dorchester. About half of them are carrying purple UNISON flags. Banners have been taped onto low railings in the foreground. Each has a UNISON logo at the top and slogans have been written underneath, such as 'Hands off our NHS', 'Say no to SubCo' and 'One team, one NHS'.BBC
Staff staged protests in Bournemouth, Poole and Dorchester

Staff at three NHS trusts in Dorset have been protesting about plans to contract their jobs to a subsidiary.

Dorset HealthCare (DHC), Dorset County Hospital (DCH) and University Hospitals Dorset (UHD) announced in April that all estates and facilities staff would transfer to a new company.

Protests, organised by UNISON, were held at Dorset County Hospital on Thursday, Poole Hospital on Wednesday and Royal Bournemouth Hospital on Tuesday.

NHS bosses said the subsidiary, called SubCo, would be "100% owned" by the trusts and all staff would retain their NHS terms and conditions, and their NHS pension.

NHS staff in Dorchester tell Radio Solent why they are fighting the changes

Union member Lynne Hubbard said: "I think it's a very, very serious attack on workers in the health service but also a serious attack for people who might have a future hope to work in the NHS on proper and equal terms and conditions.

"You ultimately get what you pay for. I've been in the NHS for 40 years and I've seen privatisation of domestics and caterers and estates and porters and I can tell you, you don't get the same service.

"When people are not treated fairly, their motivation is affected and they look for other jobs so we can see an exit of people."

Ms Hubbard said, although staff would initially be on the same terms, regulations governing the transfer of employment rights - known as TUPE (Transfer of Undertakings - Protection of Employment) - allowed for future changes.

She said: "Under TUPE, these can be changed at any time and all the hospital has to prove is that it's not making money.

"The NHS is not here to make money from our domestics and porters and staff."

A smiling Lynne Hubbard at the protest in Dorchester. It's a sunny day. She is wearing sunglasses and has shoulder length blonde hair. She is wearing a denim jacket and a cerise t-shirt.
Lynne Hubbard has worked for the NHS for 40 years

In a joint statement, UHD chief executive Siobhan Harrington and DCH and DHC chief executive Matthew Bryant said:

"Staff working in estates, facilities management and procurement are highly valued colleagues and absolutely central to the provision of safe, effective patient care.

"We are committed to engaging with them to protect services across Dorset and maintain long-term security for staff.

"Any new subsidiary company would be 100 per cent owned by Dorset County Hospital, Dorset HealthCare and University Hospitals Dorset.

"Very importantly colleagues would retain their NHS terms and conditions, and their NHS pension.

"All colleagues have the right to participate in protests in their own time and this should not impact on patient care and the running of our services."

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