Key staff at the north’s flagship hospital could go on strike amid claims that shift changes will put patient safety at risk.
Porters at Raigmore Hospital have voted overwhelmingly to take industrial action after a breakdown in talks with NHS Highland chiefs.
Union leaders warned last night that the service was “already under pressure” – often with just two porters covering the entire hospital.
And they claimed that the proposed changes to their working hours could jeopardise patient and staff safety.
But NHS Highland denied the claims, insisting that the new rota would “enhance patient care”.
Porters perform a number of tasks around the hospital, including moving medical equipment, removing the bodies of deceased patients from wards, dealing with waste, as well as driving and delivering meals.
A consultative ballot held by the GMB union found that 97% of the porters at Raigmore were in favour of taking action.
The union will now carry out a formal ballot on industrial action, but have also called in dispute resolution group ACAS Scotland to try to find a situation.
Liz Gordon, regional officer for the GMB, said: “We do not believe this will cover operational requirement and safeguard either patients or GMB members health, safety and welfare.
“We recognise the service is already under pressure, often with only two porters on to cover the whole hospital, but we do not believe imposing this shift pattern is the way ahead.
“It is so important we get this right for all concerned.
“A consultative ballot for industrial action has been overwhelmingly supported by the whole workforce.
“This is a clear indication of the strength of feeling around this issue and other problems within the department.
“The GMB will now conduct a formal industrial action ballot, but in the meantime we have asked for the intervention of ACAS as a means of seeking a positive outcome.
“It is hoped the NHS will consider this option as a way of moving forward.”
The new rota being trialled by NHS Highland involves porters working to a 16-week pattern of shifts, with seven different start times.
They currently work an 11-week rota, with four start times.
One of the main issues raised by staff is that the new system will involve porters working seven days on for eight weeks.
Staff say that the longer spells are likely to result in more sick leave because of the physically demanding nature of the job, leaving a thinly-stretched service at greater risk.
The GMB is concerned that the service is already affected by a lack of personnel to cover sickness and annual leave, which the rota will not address.
The union has also raised concerns that having a number of different start times will impact on the porters’ lifestyle out of work.
A staff member, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “We do not want to do this. The NHS matters to us, the service we provide matters to us.
“All we are trying to do is highlight an issue but we are effectively being told to go away.”
An NHS Highland spokeswoman said: “A review of portering services has taken place over the past two years involving the porters, hotel services management, portering management, staff side reps, personnel and the senior management team of the hospital.
“We can confirm that a new proposed rota is being trialled from the 1st August which meets the needs of the service and will enhance patient care.”
Labour MSP for the Highlands and Islands Rhoda Grant said: “That’s a huge vote for action. It’s unusual for such a union to get such a high number of people calling for action at a consultative ballot.
“The workforce can’t be happy. People don’t want to go on strike and they do everything to avoid it so this has to be a message to NHS Highland.”
She added: “I would want to see NHS Highland and the union get back round the table and negotiate.
“This should send a clear message that the workforce is not happy and they need to reach an agreement.
“Nobody wants to see strike action in such a key part of the hospital’s staff.”
