Nurses being asked about changes to working hours
HOSPITAL bosses have unveiled plans to change the shift patterns of hundreds of city nurses – in a bid to bring the way they work into the 21st century.
The introduction of 12-hour shifts – but fewer working days – are part of proposals put forward by Derby's hospitals trust.
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And the plans could affect more than 1,500 nurses.
At the moment, nurses work a variety of shifts – including the traditional pattern of five days a week.
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But acting chief nurse Cathy Winfield said there was "a lot of inconsistencies" with the current system and they were looking to put nurses on the majority of wards on similar shifts. This includes having them on three 12-hour shifts a week.
Ms Winfield said: "These are shifts which are already widely being used in other hospitals and are a more modern way of working.
"The positives for staff should be some more continuity in their working and social lives."
Ms Winfield said it was hoped the plans would make patients feel "safe and secure" because they were more likely to be cared for by the same nurse – while it would give staff a "better work-life balance".
She said it would also make it easier to move nurses around the Royal Derby Hospital when bosses were opening up extra wards for additional patients, or closing off wards because of outbreaks of infections.
Royal College of Nursing representative for Derby's hospitals Michael Hayworth said there had been a mixed reaction to the proposals – with staff currently being consulted on them.
But he said this all came down to how the proposed shift patterns fitted in with each nurse's individual lifestyle and outside-of-work commitments.
He said: "Some staff have already said they are able to do it, while others have concerns about what is proposed. There's not so much a general feeling as an individual one, depending on each nurse's circumstances.
"The one thing which is very positive is that there would be an 11-hour gap between each shift – that is a good move forward. I also want to ensure staff get the breaks they are entitled to, as this will be important."
Ms Winfield said feedback was still being gathered before any changes, which would not happen until May, were made. She added not all wards would be affected by the changes – such as the medical assessment unit – and said some nurses were already doing 12-hour shifts.
This includes Helen Lee, senior staff nurse at the intensive care unit, who said: "I find the shifts work well for me because I am able to spread my workload and build a relationship with the patient and their relatives."
7 Comments
by Philanthropic
Tuesday, March 05 2013, 12:29AM
“make_redgreen, On reflection, I don't think I made a very good job of stating what I wanted to say. I know that 'bank staff' are not paid 3 x the hourly rate as 'ordinary' contracted nurses. However 'agency nurses' certainly are, if not evn more than 3 x 'ordinary' contracted nurses. The mistake I made was to refer to both 'bank' and 'agency' nurses in the same sentence without being specifically clear of the difference. I apologise to any 'bank staff' that I may have given the wrong impression abot their pay. I did not do it deliberately and recognise that 'bank staff' are a key element in providing and maintaining quality nursing practice.”
by make_redgreen
Monday, March 04 2013, 3:31PM
“Well Philantropic, I can assure you that bank staff aren't paid 3 times the normal rate, but you do raise a good point re a flat rate regardless of when working.
Currently bank staff do get an uplift for short term notice, job uncertainly and holiday element - however they, like FT staff, also receive uplifts for unsociable hours. What incentive will there be for bank staff to make themselves available at weekends when the rate is the same as for the week?
Care will plummet with this move.
Personally I'd love to do 12 hour days, but then I'm not lugging people about all day and on my feet for the whole day!”
by Derbyborn51
Monday, March 04 2013, 1:17PM
“"by Philanthropic" Absoloutly correct --- Well said.
I see they have the opinion of 1 (yes 1 out of 1500) nurse so thats it then, case closed!! May I be so bold as to suggest NOW ( before it is implemented) is the time to take a vote of the other 1499 nurses that it will affect.
I feel sure this will not be my last post.”
by Philanthropic
Monday, March 04 2013, 11:15AM
“This is NOT about improving the 'work life balance' of nursing staff, it is purely about cutting pay rates. urrently a nurse would work 37hrs on a weekly contract, spread over the 7 day week. Some nurses may work only nights, some only weekends etc. A night or weekend pay rate would be different, possibly a higher rate on a like for like hour. Any gaps are filled by 'bank' staff or ultimately 'agency nurses' on about 3 x the usual horly rate.
This tactic is all about making a flat hourly rate for any particular hour in the 168 hours in a week. So a nurse working on a saturday night or bank holiday willbe paid the same rate as someone who works ordinary day hours, say in a 'specialist clinic'. The divide and rule 'sweetener' willbe to reduce the contracted weekly hours from 37hrs, to 3 x 12 hour shifts equaling a 36 hourr working week. it will mean working extra hours and 'double shifts' to cover sickness and holiday leave will not receive additional payments above the 'hourly rate' that is set. This will be rail roaded through, because our Tory Government will instruct hospital managers to go and recruit thousands of nurses from the sub continent at lower hourly pay rates than is paid to current nurses or award even more 'contracts' to their 'private' health provider buddies, to further erode the British institution that is the National Health Service. Our government misters and MP's will all vote for this including Labour and the Liberal Democrats, because they and their families will all receive lifetime free private health services from their public school boy chums who just happen to benefit from Government contract awards.
Not in my name, now and never.”
by Perlaine
Monday, March 04 2013, 10:55AM
“Don't know which school Miss_Naughty went to but in my book 40 hours a week down to 36 is a 10% wage increase, bet I don't get that on my pension.”
by Miss_Naughty
Monday, March 04 2013, 10:16AM
“40 hours over 5 days (including lunch) down to 36 hours over 3 days. So wage decreases by the backdoor it is then.
Add to that after 8 hours a day most staff are worn out, what happens to the standards of care of nurses that are coming to the end of the 12 hour shift?”
by HayeMaker1974
Monday, March 04 2013, 8:56AM
“The reporter uses the words 'proposals' and 'could affect' - these changes are actually happening and are not just an idea...”