Health bosses met hospital security guards yesterday to begin consultation on controversial plans to cut night shift cover at Raigmore in Inverness to just one member of staff.
The GMB union, of which the majority of the hospital’s 10-strong security team are members, has described the plan as “appalling and ridiculous”.
It has threatened balloting members on potential industrial action if NHS Highland goes ahead with the proposal to reduce night workers from the current two to one.
Claims lives put at risk if night security staff cut at Raigmore Hospital
GMB regional officer Liz Gordon said: “The first of a number of meetings was held and it is clear that the NHS want to make changes.
“We’re clear that this will not involve changes to term and conditions for security staff. Neither will we discuss a reduction in numbers or service.”
A spokeswoman for NHS Highland said: “It was a positive meeting, with a plan for the way forward.
“No decisions have been made as this is a very early stage of the process.
“Management and security are working in partnership to ensure all staff views are listened to and taken on board for future planning.”
A confidential letter from health bosses said a recent six-month review of security guard duties concluded they were working shifts with “very lean activity”.
It added that porters have had “basic training” to act as back up to security guards, claiming this would “reduce the risk significantly”
But the union leader said: “It’s utter nonsense to say that security guards don’t have enough work.
“Out of 214 [recent] shifts, 120 incidents were logged. These range from minor incidents to a break in and violent behaviour.”
In the year to July last year there were 594 “violent and aggressive” logged, rising from 26 in September 2016 to 55 in March and 80 in July, 2017.
The union boss added: “I’ve spoken with ward staff and they are appalled by this proposal. It is putting lives at risk. Ward pressures are bad enough with insufficient beds and low staffing numbers.
“Equally ridiculous is the notion that porters will have the time to give assistance. When dealing with a dead body, it takes both porters working the night shift to take it to the mortuary.
“If an incident happened at the other end of the hospital, then there would be no available back up.”
