Blood testing staff in Leeds and Bradford to stage second strike over patient safety
Hospital pathologists, who test blood samples and monitor blood transfusions, will strike for 48 hours this week at St James's Hospital in Leeds, Leeds General Infirmary and Bradford Royal Infirmary in the continuing dispute over patient safety.
The strike will run for 48 hours starting at 08.30 on Thursday (1 August) and will continue on Friday (2 August). Staff staged a day's strike on 16 July when a continuous overtime ban also began.
Unite, the country's largest union, said the dispute centres on the lack of staff necessary to provide a safe service for the public in the Leeds and Bradford region. The union said the management's plans could also mean cuts of £20,000 a year for staff.
Talks have been held to seek a settlement to the dispute with the management of Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust under the auspices of the conciliation service, Acas.
Unite regional officer Terry Cunliffe said:
“However, we have failed to make the progress that we had hoped for and the trust continues to impose shift arrangements that are, in the opinion of Unite, unsafe for patients and staff.
“We have a duty to fight such proposals and to bring this issue to the attention of the public.
“We had offered to reconsider this week's industrial action if the trust withdrew the threat to impose these shifts on our members, but up to today (30 July) it has refused.
“Unite has agreed to ensure that we will work with the trust to ensure emergency cover will be maintained.”
Pathology staff provide essential blood testing, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. A total of 140 staff are affected by this dispute.
