The partial strike by biomedical scientists is part of a long-running pay dispute. Their union Unite claims the trust has backtracked on a 2019 agreement to upgrade the 21 staff to a higher grade on their specialist pay scale. They analyse patient blood samples at the Royal Blackburn and the Burnley General Teaching Hospitals. After an 85 per cent vote for industrial action the scientists will stop doing night, weekend and late shifts for a month. They will only work on their core days – Monday to Friday from 8.45am to 5pm and early shifts from 7am to 3pm from May 7 until June 4. Kate Quinn from the trust said any industrial action would not affect emergency care at the Royal Blackburn and said many staff had been regraded.
Missing: Matthew Holbrook, of Littleborough (before haircut)
Matthew Holbrook, of Littleborough, has gone missing from Royal Blackburn Hospital and police are urgently looking to find him.
The 38-year-old was last seen yesterday (26 April) at around 5pm within the grounds of the hospital where he was receiving treatment.
Matthew is described as 6ft tall, of slim build with blue eyes, a full beard and short dark brown hair (he is pictured here before he had his hair cut short). He also has a tattoo on his neck.
He was last seen wearing a black cap, dark coloured work combat trousers and red trainers.
BIOMEDICAL scientists will stop night and weekend shifts in a month-long action at two Lancashire hospitals over unpaid wages of up to £8,000 after management reneged on an agreed pay upgrade.
The 21 scientists analyse blood samples and carry out other procedures at Royal Blackburn Hospital and Burnley General Teaching Hospital, which are run by East Lancashire NHS Hospitals Trust.
Strike action, which will see the scientists stop working night and weekend shifts, will run continuously from Friday May 7 until Friday June 4.
Unite have warned that Blackburn might have to close its A&E unit during the strike.
Regional officer Keith Hutson said: “We are not prepared to see our members forgo back pay which, in some cases, amounts up to £8,000.
Beautiful tributes to special Rossendale people who died this week
Family members have left loving messages this week to relatives who have passed away
Pictures of those who have died in Rossendale recently
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Tributes have been left this week to remember loved ones in Rossendale who have recently passed away.
FRONTLINE NHS staff say they have been unfairly hit by parking fines after their car park was taken over for coronavirus testing. Hospital workers are supposed to receive free parking at Royal Blackburn Hospital, which says that it has worked hard to make as many spaces as possible available. However, an employee at the hospital, who asked to remain anonymous, has come forward and said this has not been the case for her and her colleagues. With their usual car park taken over for testing, the lack of space is forcing them to arrive early to hunt for scarce spaces, risk being late or expose themselves to the danger of being fined.