HEALTH trust bosses have hit back at claims that they've acted "recklessly" in setting-up a new company to run some services at Airedale Hospital.

UNISON accuses the trust of forcing 350 staff out of NHS employment and misleading them over the move.

It claims the launch of a "wholly-owned subsidiary company" – to deliver services such as portering, cleaning, ward catering and estates management – will affect patient care and staff conditions of employment.

And it alleges there has been a lack of proper consultation.

But Airedale NHS Foundation Trust refutes the allegations, saying the plans will actually protect staff and patient care and that more than 40 sessions had been held as part of the process to consult those affected.

Unions are planning another protest outside the Steeton hospital on Thursday (Mar 1).

Tony Pearson, UNISON's regional head of health, said: "The trust is acting in a reckless manner and is misleading staff.

"It claims it has consulted with staff, however the so-called consultation was just a series of presentations limited to one option, whilst the trust spent £350,000 setting-up the private company.

"The board was presented with a petition signed by 3,000 members of the public, but still pressed ahead with its plans.

"The trust has promised present staff that it will protect their terms and conditions for 25 years. This is nonsense, because legal regulations allow employers to change conditions for any economic, technical or organisational reason."

He added: "These plans are a recipe for disaster and should be put on hold until other options are considered.

"They will create a two-tier workforce, and we are certain this will cause workforce issues and problems for patient care."

However, Stacey Hunter – chief operating officer at the trust – said the board was clear that establishing the subsidiary, AGH Solutions Ltd, was the only model which would enable staff and patient care to be protected.

She added: "We ruled out outsourcing because the trust wouldn't have been able to retain the same level of influence over the quality of service or guarantee protection for staff terms and conditions.

"Likewise, we could not second staff to the subsidiary as this would create uncertainty for them and could have meant that they would not be able to continue to access the NHS pension scheme.

"We do not accept that we haven't consulted meaningfully.

"We've consulted comprehensively with our staff and trade unions, running more than 40 sessions during the working day, evenings and at weekends to make sure we reach all our teams.

"We have listened to staff and trade union feedback and have acted on it.

"As well as committing to TUPE protection for the 25-year life of the contract, we have also committed to protecting membership of the NHS pension scheme, terms and conditions on promotion, matching annual NHS pay awards and offering permanent contracts to our bank staff who have been working with us for over a year.

"We were disappointed when our unions withdrew from the process some months ago and when they more recently decided to go into formal dispute with the trust. We recognise their right to protest, but are concerned that some of the information they are putting out is incorrect and is worrying staff unnecessarily.

"We have every confidence that AGH Solutions Ltd will be a successful organisation that values its staff and supports both patient care and our local economy."