'500 nursing vacancies - yet Betsi management are doing this!'

Mounting concern over rota change plans in north Wales hospitals

Plaid Cymru councillor Carrie Harper has condemned Betsi Cadwaladr health board over plans to make nurses work longer shifts for no more money.

The proposals, currently out for consultation among staff, would mean nurses and Health Care Support Workers having an extra half-hour unpaid break per shift. This would effectively mean having to work an extra shift per month and has prompted a huge reaction among the health board's nursing staff.

Cllr Harper, from Wrexham, said: 

"Betsi Cadwaladr health board currently has 500 nursing vacancies. Yet its management plans to introduce new rotas for staff that will make it harder to fill those vacancies. Nurses are telling Plaid Cymru that they will retire early, cut their hours, take annual leave or even go to work for agencies if these proposals go ahead.
"Nurses and HCSWs are at the frontline of delivering a fantastic service across the North. They're already working under immense pressure and many have told us that they have to take their breaks on the ward and are effectively on call despite not being paid for those breaks. Betsi is cynically trying to exploit nurses' goodwill to have them stay on site for longer so they can save money on employing agency nurses.
"Nurses work damned hard and don't need more pressure being put on them by management who can leave their offices at 5pm. One in 10 nursing positions is vacant in Betsi, which gives you an indication of how difficult it is to fill these demanding roles. Does senior management really think this move is going to help retention and recruitment?"

The petition - https://www.wrexhamplaid.cymru/nurse_rotas - which was launched just four days ago has already gathered 2,500 supporters and Cllr Harper said the passion and strength of feeling was evident from the hundreds of comments by nurses, HCSWs and general public.

She added: 

"The consultation goes on until 17 September. There's still time to show your support for our nurses and to keep the pressure up on both BCUHB management and the Welsh Government, which has direct control over Betsi."