NHS STAFF SELL DAYS OFF TO PAY BILLS

WE GIVE UP HOLS TO DEAL WITH PAY CUT HELL

- AMY SHARPE

SKINT NHS workers are selling their holiday days to make ends meet.

They take extra payments instead of taking time off.

Others, like single mum Pauline Brady, 37, work extra days to get by. She said: “I’m exhausted. It’s not fair.” 

GROWING numbers of NHS staff are flogging their annual leave in a desperate bid to make ends meet.

Burnt-out staff at all levels are giving up precious down-time in return for pay as the cost of utility bills, fuel and food soars.

In a snap union poll of 1,000 staff, 150 said they had sold holiday days – accepting payment instead of the time off – while 700 said they had worked extra shifts to get by.

If those figures were reflected across the NHS, thousands could be in the same boat.

The shocking revelation heaps shame on the Government after its below-inflation pay award for NHS workers was described by unions as a kick in the teeth, and yet another real-terms pay cut.

NHS nurse and GMB rep Holly Turner said: “It’s outrageous that people are having to do this, especially with how high the NHS staff sickness rates are.

“The job is physically and emotionally gruelling and people need that time off. Morale is low and burnout is high.”

EXODUS

Buying and selling annual leave is not a new concept within the NHS. Staff can apply to buy up to two weeks of extra annual leave and sell up to one week, Ms Turner said.

But unions say selling time off has gone from an occasional event to a “common issue”.