Looks like this might be a y2k+2 problem...

PAY HASSLE NHS STAFF GO PRIVATE

11:00 - 28 March 2002 Private nursing agency Thornbury has reported a "significant" upturn in the amount of staff joining its books as a result of a payment fiasco at North Bristol NHS Trust.

Health workers who had taken on shift work with NHS Professionals have left in droves since Halifax-based West Yorkshire Ambulance Service (WYMAS) took over its payroll.

Since the switch earlier this year, hundreds of workers have not receiving the correct pay - if any - for hours they have worked.

Caroline Hole-Jones, spokeswoman for Thornbury Nursing Agency said: "We have seen a significant upturn in the number of nurses and care staff as well as clerical staff from North Bristol who have applied to the agency.

"In some cases the nurses have been with the NHS for years and would never have left under any other conditions."

Now, trade union Unison is holding a meeting at a Bristol hospital to try to help the shift - or "bank" - staff who have not been properly paid for three months.

WYMAS has been responsible for the setting up of the new system, which has only been operational in North Bristol, but other trusts in the region were due to start with them in the near future.

North Bristol runs Frenchay, Southmead and Blackberry Hill hospitals and staff in all three have been affected.

Some have not been paid since the scheme started in January.

Many nurses, care assistants, auxiliary nurses, porters and clerical workers take bank shifts - some exclusively - and nearly all have had problems in gaining access to information.

Porters' shop steward Mike Hulin said: "This situation has gone on for long enough."

The meeting is at Frenchay Hospital at midday on April 3. http://www.thisisbristol.com/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=86429&command=displayContent&sourceNode=86428&contentPK=1354981

-- Anonymous, March 30, 2002