1,000 signatures reached
To: Janelle Holmes & David Henshaw, Chief Executive at Wirral University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, and Chairman at Wirral University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
Pay Fair for Patient Care – support Wirral’s clinical support workers
Dear Janelle Holmes and David Henshaw,
Clinical Support Workers (CSWs) employed at Arrowe Park and Clatterbridge hospitals give invaluable care to some of the Wirral’s most vulnerable residents – but for years they’ve been undervalued and underpaid by the Trust (WUTH).
CSWs at WUTH are employed on Band 2 and, as such, should only undertake personal care such as assisting patients with feeding, toileting and bathing. However a survey of hundreds of staff at WUTH found that the vast majority of CSWs are regularly and routinely undertaking clinical duties above their pay grade which should be paid at least Band 3. Duties include taking bloods, urinalysis, cannula care, patient observations, catheter care and wound dressings.
The difference between Band 2 and Band 3 NHS pay is nearly £2,000 per year – it is absolutely outrageous that dedicated CSWs, who already went above and beyond during the pandemic, are being systematically underpaid for the work they do.
Clinical Support Workers and Healthcare Assistants in other NHS Trusts across the North West have come together in their trade union, UNISON, to win Band 3 and secure back-pay to reward and recognise the years they’ve been undertaking clinical duties.
A number of Trusts – including Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, the Northern Care Alliance, Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust, Stockport NHS Foundation Trust, Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust, Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust, and Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust – have all re-banded their CSWs/HCAs and paid back-pay up to 1 April 2018.
Why are CSWs employed at Arrowe Park and Clatterbridge hospitals worth any less?
As concerned residents of the Wirral and beyond, we call on the Trust to show your CSWs the respect they deserve by paying CSWs appropriately for the work they do and rewarding the years they’ve worked above their pay band by paying back-pay to 1 April 2018 as an absolute minimum.
Why is this important?
Add your name to this petition in support of Wirral University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust Clinical Support Workers in their campaign for fair pay and recognition.