NO CUTS at Homerton hospital

The company that runs the cleaning, catering, security services at Homeron Hospital announced in July that they plan to cut hours and posts for some staff. Initially we were told this could mean up to 89 redundancies but ISS have since stated that the number will be much less than this.

Nevertheless, it is clear that ISS are looking to reduce hours and some positions.

Our first concern is about patient safety. Where staff are already stretched trying to complete the work they need to do, we believe that the impact of staff working shorter hours or having fewer staff working in the hospital will be that the vital work that our cleaners, caterers and security staff do cannot be completed effectively.

We are also concerned about the impact on staff. ISS staff have told us that they are worried about what cuts in pay will do to themselves and their families. This is a very low paid group of workers. They are also concerned about the impact on the health of staff left covering increased workloads.

But above all, ISS staff have pointed out that their role is about saving lives. They get job satisfaction from working for patients and are very committed to the Homerton Hospital and are therefore extremely concerned about what this will do to the service they can provide.

Protect our patients, protect our NHS, no reduction in hours or posts.

The current threat to hours and posts and the lack of information provided to staff does little to support either promise.

Patient care should be our priority and staff are willing to discuss how workloads are organised. But cuts in hours overall and loss of posts will not support better patient care.