NHS staff under pressure to work

NHS staff may be under pressure to work when sick instead of taking time off, according to the Society of Radiographers (SoR).

The union wants the issue to be debated at this week’s annual TUC congress in London.

Amendments to sickness and absence policies have been introduced to make efficiency savings in the NHS, with staff judged to be failing to maintain attendance to be punished, and Pam Black, a member of the SoR's council, said: “Many of the new procedures that have been introduced pay lip service to an employee’s well-being, are time-consuming to manage with no discernable financial or service benefit, and threaten the most vulnerable in the workforce.

“As a result of changes to the negotiated policy, members feel threatened and intimidated and attend work when they may not be able to work effectively, or are a danger to themselves and patients.”

The SoR is calling for a more responsible attitude to any changes to agreed and negotiated policies.