Staff asked to work for free

Whipps Cross University Hospital Trust has asked its employees to give up their holidays and do un-paid work as part of ‘extraordinary financial measures’ to tackle its £4.5m deficit.

All 3,400 workers were asked to voluntarily sacrifice part of their annual leave, take unpaid leave or perform ‘additional unpaid sessional duties’. In a letter to staff, Whipps Cross’ chief executive, Cathy Geddes, explained that the Trust was facing “unprecedented” financial challenges, and certain steps were necessary to achieve their targets.

The NHS has to make efficiency savings of £20bn by 2015, and all trusts must reach Foundation Trust status by 2013, meaning they must settle their debts by this time.

Geddes stressed that the measures were only short-term and voluntary. In a press statement, she said: “Staff across the Trust are responding positively to the measures, and to our efficiency plans.

“We recognise that many people already go the extra mile and deliver over and above their job requirements. By working together, we will all be helping to ensure that we can put maximum funds into our frontline services.”