Nurses threaten action in protest over new director

Trade union Unison said its members were angry over the creation of the new "director of quality standards" position, as the money should fund more nursing staff instead.

Unison branch secretary Tony Wright said he had received many complaints and described the move as an "insult to our nurses".

He added: "Staff are getting really pushed. They are having to work overtime to help the ward managers out, and yet they are creating this position.

"They feel they cannot get any money for the extra staff that are needed, so they can't understand why the decision has been made to appoint this director."

It is understood that nurses at Barnsley Hospital are now considering "working to rule" – doing the minimum work necessary to fulfil their jobs.

The row has broken out since Juliette Greenwood, Barnsley Hospital Foundation Trust's chief nurse and director of quality standards, was involved in a car accident and went on sick leave in January 2009.

Sharon Linter replaced her temporarily, as acting chief nurse and director of quality standards.

When Mrs Greenwood returned to work last month, however, a hospital committee decided to split that role into two full-time positions.

As a result, Ms Linter was appointed director of quality standards, a post which carries a salary of at least 75,000 a year.

An internal email sent to all hospital staff last week said that keeping both women on was essential given the "sheer scale of work required."

A Barnsley Hospital Foundation Trust spokesman said there had not been a recruitment freeze at the hospital but added they needed to scrutinise every post.

The spokesman said: "Our absolute focus is on honing in on quality and patient care for the financial benefits set out in the new Department of Health framework, for the legal requirement set out by the Care Quality Commission, and also because we believe that's what the people of Barnsley deserve.

"It's not unusual in certain circumstances for a long-term secondment, as was the case here, to be converted into a permanent post should the organisation require it."