HARD-WORKING staff working in hospitals across Worcester deserve to earn more than the minimum wage, says a current bank healthcare assistant.

Sue Walton, from Worcester, works in that role at Worcestershire Royal Hospital and the Community Hospitals in Worcestershire.

She has raised her concerns that hospital staff in the region are being left demoralised by the fact they earn only 1p more than the current minimum wage.

The current rate is £11.45 per working hour.

Mrs Walton believes people working in these roles should be rewarded with better pay, highlighting their "tireless work" through the Covid pandemic.

"Minimum wage has gone up, which means our basic wage is only a penny over that rate," she said.

"I'm a bank healthcare assistant at Worcestershire Royal Hospital and Community Hospitals in Worcestershire and we are earning less than people stacking shelves in supermarkets.

"This has never happened before, it's unprecedented. We are looking after people's lives.

"People are quite shocked at what we are earning.

"We received no bonus after working in the pandemic - it's a kick in the teeth.

"Staff still can't quite believe the situation. We are all in the same boat."

Mrs Walton said many of the staff were "integral" to both the nursing staff and medical team.

She made a point of how important a health care assistant's role was as they spend a lot of time with patients and can alert nursing staff when their health is deteriorating. 

A joint statement from Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust and Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust said: “We recognise the essential role that Healthcare Assistants play, and they are a valued part of our workforces.

"While NHS pay is set nationally, as Trusts we are currently carrying out a piece of work alongside our Trade Union representative colleagues looking at various options, including a banding review for those on the Band 2 pay scale. 

"Once final proposals have been put together a paper will go to our Boards later in the year for approval.”

The Department of Health and Social Care has recommended the NHS pay review body consider making changes that are planned to be announced in due course.

A spokesperson said: “Healthcare assistants are key members of the NHS workforce and employers must ensure they are supported to deliver safe care to patients as part of a wider team of doctors and nurses.

“We have asked the independent NHS pay review body to consider and make recommendations on the pay of their workforces, these will be announced in due course.

“These independent bodies are made up of industry experts. Their recommendations consider several factors like the cost of living and value for the taxpayer.”