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Derby nurses 'reluctantly' accept rebanding

  • Published: 16 April 2008 18:43
  • Last Updated: 16 April 2008 18:43
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Union members have accepted Derby Hospital's latest offer in a long running dispute over downgrading surgical nursing posts.

Unions have been in dispute with Derby Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust since January over its plans to reduce band 7 nursing posts to band 6, and band 6 to band 5, saving the trust £55m.

This week the RCN said members had agreed to accept the trust's slightly improved offer, with some minor modifications 'with great reluctance and concern'. This includes an extended period of pay protection, plus a joint monitoring and review process with trade unions to assess any adverse impact of the restructure on patient safety.

The review offer is in response to nurses' worries that patient safety could be put at risk if there are fewer higher-grade nurses at the trust's two hospitals – the Derbyshire Royal Infirmary and Derby City General.

'It's clear that the trust has lost a lot of goodwill from our members,' said Sheila Marriott, RCN regional director for the East Midlands. 'But as anxious and under-valued as they feel, our members have shown once again that their patients come first.'

The RCN said it would set up a monitoring group from among its membership in Derby to help inform the joint review process.

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Reader Response

Added: Tuesday, 22 April 2008 10:44 BST
Anonymous, Coalville, United Kingdom

I am one of the band 6 nurses about to be downbanded at Derby. Morale is at an all time low . I've been qualified for 15 years and done numerous post registration courses. I've been working at the level of a band 6 nurse since Agenda for Change was introduced and stand to lose £1700 per year, and that is from part time wages. In the current financial climate, it's another giant worry of how to pay the bills and provide for my young family. If I had my time again, I would never trained to be a nurse.


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Added: Friday, 18 April 2008 23:16 BST
Anonymous, Braintree, United Kingdom

Regarding the Darby Hospital situation where level 7 is downgraded to level 6 etc. Is this the now trend for all hospitals to follow so that the overspent budget can be recuperated through the overworked and seriously underpaid staff?!! How many bosses at the top who are surplus to requirements still have their positions and their over the top income-perhaps its time for them to relinquish some of their pay like the rest of the staff nurses.


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Added: Friday, 18 April 2008 16:46 BST
Anonymous, Newark, United Kingdom

What was all the work on agenda for change for? Once again Trusts have been allowed to overide nurses agreed signed contracts. This sets a dangerous trend for all nurses.
I cannot believe that we did not put this to national ballot for all members to show their support.


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Added: Thursday, 17 April 2008 09:01 BST
Anonymous, Wigston, United Kingdom

UNISON members have definitely not accepted this offer and are fighting on despite the RCN caving in.
This is an outrageous move on the part of the trust to subvert Agenda for Change bandings and get nurses to work on the cheap doing Band 6 level work for Band 5 level money. It must be resisted.


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