To refuse this redeployment?

[xrayted]

I am a highly qualified and experienced NHS band 6 with many
years of experience in my field. Without going into too many details our department has temporarily ground to a halt due to supply issues. This is a worldwide problem in what is a rather niche area of our expertise. This should be resolved in the next few weeks but in the meantime the powers that be have decided that we should be redeployed to work as porters, ferrying bed/chair patients to and from appointments within the hospital. I assume they cope fine without us when we are otherwise busy.

Now, first of all i can think of a hundred admin tasks we could be doing in our own department which we normally have no time for, being an incredibly busy department when up and running. We are still catching up with a huge backlog of work from covid and waiting lists are long. We are not allowed to take unpaid leave during this period (although can they refuse?). The other consideration is that I am approaching retirement and have a history of bulging disc injuries and am not looking forward to being forced to lug around beds and wheelchairs which invariably have wonky wheels or dodgy brakes let alone supporting mobility challenged patients.

So thanks if you got this far. My AIBU is: how can I handle this situation professionally without appearing to be rebellious and refusing this redeployment? I am a hard worker but don't see the sense of this. I really want to refuse this work but my contract does state that we can be transferred to other departments at management's discretion- I didn't realise at the time that this was what that meant! Management seems determined to get its money's worth instead of finding an intelligent use of our time.
Would love some clever ideas!

To be fair the managers are wasting your money by having her portering, and to take it further might damage the asset your money helped to train. Rendering her unavailable to do her highly skilled job after the assignment ends...

Have you missed that OP has a bulging disc and is in her 60s, or do you just think she's going to be fine moving people around regardless?

Simple.

Ask them for a risk assessment.

Point out to them that the NHS has paid for you to gain those skills and that if you hurt yourself then the trust will lose those skills and it will be costly for them.

Add a list of the tasks that do need doing in your department.

I've been out of the NHS for decades but the number of times I was sent to count electrodes in stock used to make me think some managers like to waste money.

Hit the report button on your original post and ask MNHQ to move the thread.

If you don’t ask for it though, you won’t get it. If you ask you might. And I when I say ask I mean really lay down the facts and benefits for all who need to see.

Just another thought especially as you say your management can be inflexible- get your RPA/MPE on board, they may have more clout if needed when discussing what essential non clinical work should be completed.

Have your spoken to your union rep ? There is probably health and safety training involved as well .

It's going to be fine because you're NOT going to be portering are you!!!🤨

You cannot risk not being able to walk again!!

they won't give two fucks if you end up damaged or permanently disabled.

stop caring what they think of you saying NO.

Just got to reading all the brilliant and supportive suggestions. Today we were told that IF the situation arises that we are underemployed in the dept then we WILL be redeployed but it is still very vague as to how or where. When I asked what the options would be, "maybe portering" was on the list but nothing was clarified or definite. As happened with Covid, this will likely be dropped on as the last minute as a fait accompli and many will feel they have no choice.

Thanks to your suggestions I will be respectfully decline and have dug out my MRI CDrom if they need proof of my back issues. Also made a list of alternate admin tasks and offer to provide clinical help on wards - venous access for eg is always short staffed too.

Again thanks for (mostly) agreeing I am not U and definitely not a slacker!

No wonder this country/the NHS is in such a mess...

your being unreasonable for refusing to do porting because your a band 6

but the back issue is a valid reason not to do it

This, plus include the future impact (why does it matter these aren’t being done? What long term benefit is to doing them - presumably everything’s rocking along without them at the moment?)

NHS isn’t just doctors & nurses!

Are they going to train you all in porter’s work, which I imagine involves a very high level of health and safety issues? Just for a few weeks when you could be fully occupied in your own department.

Personally, I'd rather you write the report to tell me what was in the CT scan in July rather than went pushing other people's beds about.

Your backlog will be huge. I know mine is - I could happy carry on working remotely without assessing new patients for several months. You're much more usefully deployed using your skill set.

What does your professional body say?
I think mine would have a lot to say about redeploying OTs when there is still therapy work to be done.