Health bosses have said they are “very disappointed” with a decision by the Unite Union to pass a vote of no confidence in United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust.
The union passed the vote following concerns over patient safety at the trust which runs hospitals in the county.
Bosses at the union said ULHT appeared to be “more worried about the socks staff wore” than the understaffing of wards.
Now, they have called on regulator NHS Improvement and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to inspect the trust again.
In a letter to ULHT chair Elaine Baylis, the union said there was an “irretrievable breakdown” in partnership working and that the staff side committee had no confidence in the board.
United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust board.
Meanwhile, Unite regional officer Steve Syson said management at the trust is “chaotic”.
He said: “We have a chaotic management at this trust which is running an estimated deficit of £80 million a year.
“But, at the same time, the bosses can find £700,000 to spend on three management roles and engage consultants KPMG for advice on the financial situation, even when the trust is in financial special measures.
“How many badly-needed NHS frontline staff dealing with direct patient care would this princely sum have paid for?
“Instead of tackling the vital issues, such as understaffing in the wards at the hospitals and excessive use of agency staff identified in the CQC report, we have a petty HR regime, masterminded by the HR department, that seems more concerned about the colour of socks employees wear than dealing with staff grievances and concerns raised in relation to patient safety and frontline staff shortages.
“The staff side unions have passed a motion of ‘no confidence’ in the trust’s board, as we fear patient safety could be jeopardised.
“NHS Improvement and the Care Quality Commission have already inspected the trust’s services in April this year finding four key areas of care at the trust requiring improvement, but we feel that a second visit by these two organisations needs to happen for a more in-depth probe into the conduct of the trust.”
Boston Pilgrim Hospital. Picture: Steve Smailes
But, Martin Rayson, director of human resources and organisational development at ULHT, said the trust was disappointed in the action that the union had taken.
“Providing top quality patient care is always our number one priority,” he said.
“As everyone will know, the trust has made significant improvements over recent years going from an ‘inadequate’ Care Quality Commission rating to ‘requires improvement’, and we believe we are now on track to come out of special measures.
“Modernising our services and making improvements to the quality of our care, as well as tackling our deficit, means that the trust’s historic ways of working are changing for the benefit of our patients and their families.
“We appreciate that these changes can impact on our staff side colleagues and may be causing additional pressures, and so have been working closely with our staff and their representatives to ensure that any necessary improvements are managed properly.
“We are very disappointed that Unite has decided to take this approach, especially as we recently held a facilitated workshop to resolve any issues of partnership working, where the trust reiterated our commitment to working together in the interests of patients and staff.
Photo: The Lincolnite
“Unfortunately we have not been given the opportunity to respond to any of the union’s latest concerns but are happy to sit down with them to find a resolution.”
Samantha Millbank, accountable officer for Lincolnshire East CCG, said commissioners support the senior management at the trust.
“Lincolnshire East CCG, as lead commissioner for services provided by ULHT across Lincolnshire, is aware of the many challenges that are facing the trust,” she said.
“We continue to support the management of the Trust as they work to address these issues.”
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Large tailbacks can be seen in central Lincoln on Thursday, as a lane closure on Tritton Road proves to be a commuter’s nightmare.
The work is being undertaken by Western Power Distribution and is due to finish on Sunday, October 31.
It involves digging works next to Morrisons petrol station on Tritton Road, and closures have been put in place to allow Western Power to complete it safely.
Digging works by the footpath on Tritton Road. | Photo: The Lincolnite
It has resulted in the middle lane of Tritton Road northbound being closed by Morrisons, and then the left lane being closed past the junction for the supermarket.
A lane closure on Tritton Road is causing a traffic headache in the city. | Photo: The Lincolnite
The footpath and cycle lane have also been closed while works take place, with pedestrians using the left lane of the road, which is closed to vehicles, instead.
The pedestrian footpath has also been closed. | Photo: The Lincolnite
The closures have caused congestion issues on Tritton Road throughout Thursday.
The Lincolnite has contacted Western Power Distribution for a statement.
The man who organised the flight which cost footballer Emiliano Sala and Lincolnshire Pilot David Ibbotson their lives has been found guilty of endangering the safety of an aircraft.
David Henderson, 67, of Hotham, East Riding of Yorkshire was found guilty by a majority verdict after a trial at Cardiff Crown Court. He also previously admitted trying to arrange the flight for a passenger without permission or authorisation.
Henderson will be sentenced on November 12.
Argentine striker Sala, 28, was involved in a £15 million transfer to Cardiff City from Nantes. He was travelling between the two cities at the time of his death, when the single-engine Piper Malibu plunged into the English Channel.
Ibbotson, 59, also died in the crash in the English Channel in January 2019, although his body was never found.
The flight was set up by Henderson with football agent William “Willie” McKay.
Prosecutors previously said that Henderson acted “recklessly and dangerously” to arrange the flight, while Ibbotson was unqualified to fly the plane. Despite this, Henderson asked him to fly Sala over to Cardiff to complete his transfer to The Bluebirds.
The court also previously heard that in the immediate aftermath of the plane’s disappearance, Henderson text a colleague saying: “Malibu gone missing on way back from France…. Don’t say a word to anyone.”
He also reportedly messaged a colleague saying: “Ibbo has crashed the Malibu and killed himself and VIP pax (passenger). Bloody disaster. There will be an enquiry.”
A 55-year-old man has been arrested after two people were injured in an alleged domestic assault incident in Grantham.
Police were called to reports of an assault involving three people at a property on Manchester Way in Grantham at 9.51pm on Wednesday, October 27.
A woman in her 50s was seriously injured in the incident and a man in his 20s suffered minor injuries.
The 55-year-old man who was arrested near to the scene in connection with the incident remains in custody, where he is helping officers with their enquiries.
The force said they are not looking for anyone else in connection to this incident, but a police presence will remain in the area for the rest of Thursday, October 28 while officers carry out enquiries.
Anyone with information should contact police on 101 or via email at [email protected] quoting incident 424 of October 27.
Alternatively, it can be reported through the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online here.
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