Unison raises alarm over growing use of bank staff arrangements in Northern Trust

Trade union Unison has voiced concern over healthcare workers undertaking additional hours through staffing “bank arrangements”.

Speaking at a meeting of the Northern Health and Social Care Trust Board at Antrim Hospital on Thursday, Unison official James Large acknowledged the financial pressures facing health and social care trusts across Northern Ireland.

“We increasingly hear concerns that staff are being expected and encouraged to undertake additional hours through bank arrangements. This is a serious concern. This is not isolated to one area. It happens across other trusts also,” he said.

The Unison representative went on to say that the issue was both a “workforce issue and a governance issue”.

He claimed that such practices can result in “significant workforce ramifications”, adding that permanent staff are already “working under considerable pressure”.

“Existing staff are often expected to absorb additional workload,” he said.

Mr Large indicated this can result in “low morale and greater sickness absence” and “creates a false economy”. He argued that additional hours should first be offered to existing staff members.

“Health and Social Care cannot build a stable future on an increasing casualisation of the workforce,” he stated.

In an online post issued after the meeting, Unison said:

“Unison addressed the Northern Trust Board to raise serious concerns about the growing casualisation of the HSC workforce.

“We highlighted concerns that financial pressures must not result in staff being moved onto bank arrangements or being paid overtime at a flat rate instead of receiving overtime in line with ‘Agenda for Change’ terms and conditions.

“We also highlighted that agency staff were being overused, causing further instability within the workforce. A casual workforce is an unstable workforce. Undermining nationally agreed terms and conditions is not the answer to financial challenges.

“Unison will continue to stand up for staff, defend ‘Agenda for Change’ and campaign for secure jobs, fair pay and a sustainable Health and Social Care workforce.”

A total of £71.3 million was spent on agency staff by the Northern Health and Social Care Trust during the last financial year, it was reported at last month’s Trust Board meeting.

Of this, 26.2 per cent (£18.6 million) was spent on “off-framework agencies”, with nursing, healthcare assistant and medical locum agency spending accounting for 78 per cent of the total agency expenditure, according to a meeting report.

The report also noted:

“The Trust continues to experience a shortfall in the recruitment and retention of mainly medical and nursing staff. As a result, there is a reliance on high-cost off-contract agency appointments.

“This continues to be a financial pressure, which will impact into 2026/27.”