March against NHS subsidiary jobs transfer

People at the march said it made them feel like "second class citizens"

About 100 healthcare workers have marched in protest against plans by Dorset NHS trusts to move them into a private company.

The trusts want to create a subsidiary company for more than 1,700 members of staff, including cleaners, porters and security staff, Unison said.

Some of those at the march in Dorchester said the plans made them feel like "second class citizens" and voiced concern about what it would mean for their NHS terms and conditions, including pensions.

In a joint statement, Dorset County Hospital and University Hospital Dorset NHS foundation trusts said staff working in estates, facilities and procurement were "highly valued" and would retain their NHS terms and conditions.

Frank Goodwin said the plans made him feel like a second class citizen

Jessica Best, a housekeeper at Dorset County Hospital, said the move would be bad for staff at a time when morale was already "very low".

"We're very proud to work for the NHS," she said, adding: "It feels like that's being taken away."

Frank Goodwin, a security officer at the hospital, agreed.

"It's making me feel like we're second class citizens," said the 39-year-old.

"You'd never take the nurses or the doctors out and try to fund them separately, and find a way to make them not part of the NHS.

"I'm part of the NHS because I care, I want to work in a sector where I'm bringing something to society. I don't want to be just some contractor."

Ms Best said there were also fears over what it would mean for their contracts.

"We're very concerned about our terms and conditions," said the 47-year-old.

Lynne Hubbard said NHS staff should be "one team"

Lynne Hubbard, from Unison Dorset Health, said it amounted to "back door privatisation".

"We consider that in the NHS we're one team, and that cleaners are just as important as doctors," she said. "We should all be on the same terms and conditions."

Unison said it was conducting a ballot for strike action among its members.

The spokesperson for the trust said any subsidiary company would be "100% owned by Dorset County Hospital, Dorset HealthCare and University Hospitals Dorset".

"Very importantly colleagues would retain their NHS terms and conditions and their NHS pension," they added.