Welcome to the Podiatry Arena forums, for communication between foot health professionals about podiatry and related topics.
You are currently viewing our podiatry forum as a guest which gives you limited access to view all podiatry discussions and access our other features. By joining our free global community of Podiatrists and other interested foot health care professionals you will have access to post podiatry topics (answer and ask questions), communicate privately with other members (PM), upload content, view attachments, receive a weekly email update of new discussions, earn CPD points and access many other special features. Registered users do not get displayed the advertisments in posted messages. Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so please, join our global Podiatry community today!
If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact contact us.
The BBC are reporting: NHS staff asked to work for free
Quote:
An NHS trust in Kent is asking employees to work extra hours for free as a way to ease its financial burden.
A leaked letter from Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust said the idea was one of several to meet targets to secure a new hospital building.
The trust said it was an idea from staff after they were asked how to keep to budgets and work more efficiently.
The trust said the request was informal and completely voluntary and was to reduce its reliance on agency workers.
Plans are under way for the trust to build a multi-million pound hospital and mental health unit in Pembury under the Private Finance Initiative, but the letter hints at problems if targets are not met.
The memo, from director of human resources Terry Coode, said: "To be unsuccessful in our target will have serious consequences for the trust that will affect us all.
"It will jeopardise our investment and development plans, including our ability to build the PFI.
"To date we have avoided significant job loss as part of our financial recovery activity, unlike many trusts across the country."
As well as asking staff to work a day for free, the letter set out other ways job losses could be avoided.
These include voluntary redundancy, staff taking sabbaticals and carrying holiday days forward.
In a statement, Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust, said: "Our staff have suggested these ideas as part of wider plans to ensure we are working within our budgets.
"This informal request was extended to all staff, it is completely voluntary and we have had doctors offering to work extra hours for free.
"We think our staff do a great job anyway and if they want to help do a little more, that's entirely up to them and we thank them for it.
I work in Maidstone, covered by that trust (although i work for the PCT not the trust. Same area, different batch of managers). In the last six years the PCT has:-
Built a ramp for wheelchairs... at a clinic that was due to be demolished later that year.
Moved the patient transport office 7 miles and brought them all new furniture rather than transport what they had before.
The PCT has changed from Mid kent trust to Maidtone and Tunbridge wells PCT to Maidstone and Malling PCT to Maidstone Weald PCT to West Kent PCT and is the procession of undergoing fission again. The proposal for the new area? Maidstone and Tunbridge wells (again). Each change involves a shakeup of management structure, disruption for staff, all new stationary and boundry shifting at heaven knows what cost. Apparently THIS TIME the change is actually going to improve things. and we're sure they won't feel the need to do it again for weeks
Sent letters erroneusly to reception staff stating that they are vunerable to being made redundant.
Previously sent questionaires to the same staff to investigate the level of morale.
Frozen spending on all stock. This included paperclips.
Sent people around all the clinics to ensure we were wearing our badges.
Frozen the training budget for staff, in the same year as our obligation to prove we have undegone training in order to maintain our registration.
Ran out of toilet paper for the clinic and told us "don't worry, it's on order"
Sent us a certificate for "keeping the show on the road" to show their appreciation of our hard work. It was on scatchy and non absorbant paper. Damn.
It would be funny if it wasn't so bloody tragic! Asking us to work for free was the next logical step. They'll be charging us to come to work next! Oh wait they've already done that. You have to pay to park at some clinics.
NHS staff asked to work for free
Linear Mode
