Just give hospital staff cash
As staff of the NHS Trust we totally agree with the good, enlightening and compassionate side of New Cross Hospital, and obviously realise that there are pitfalls, insecurities and unfortunate job losses.
We have a few questions for the big chiefs, because to be honest, they don't get to hear from the mere workers, they only hear the managers of each department.
"Agenda for Change" came into force two years ago. What has changed for the better? If anything it has only brought worry and confusion. Should it have been labelled "Agenda for Chiefs"? Was the £185,000 paid to accountants to sort out the mess worth it? It doesn't look like it.
Some staff have now been waiting 18 months for back-pay, and we're now being told it should be in October's pay packet. Let's see, shall we! That money could be in our own bank accounts earning interest for us. We wonder, will we be getting the interest we've lost? Doubtful!
While some of the staff have been paid there seems to be a few in each department who have been overlooked. Why? Has this money been used to buy time, build more or cover up insufficient funds, resulting in some staff receiving and others not?
We're not greedy people, we don't ask for silly bonuses when we work certain Bank Holidays, it's part of who we are and what we do for a living. We are a caring profession (no matter where we work within the hospital and our job title).
We realise that the uppermost importance is the patients, research and growth.
We only ask for what we are owed, and a little compassion to come our way from those that should give it.
Tracey Hall, Ashbourne Road, Wolverhampton.
