NHS cancelled Bank Holidays

[maloofhoof]

I work in admin at health care practice that is usually closed on Bank holidays. Today we were informed that we have to open Good Friday, Easter Monday and the two May bank holidays. Thinking about it I should have expected it given the current situation but I hadn't thought about it, nor had our GP's or Practice manager given us any indication that this would be the case.
We were informed via email tonight after we'd closed and gone home and I just feel floored. Unreasonable yes, but the long Easter weekend was the only thing keeping me going during this challenging time. Anyone else in the same boat? I feel selfish for feeling so upset but I'm exhausted and that one weekend was my one reprieve from the stress.

Are you a receptionist? You said admin so probably not. In which case you are unlikely to be needed to work. It's also unlikely all staff will be needed on both days, we are doing one or the other. I don't think we can complain really under the circumstances, the hospital staff are having it a lot worse so I'm glad we are able to help in some small way. Sorry you're exhausted though, hopefully you'll still get the Saturday and Sunday to have a break.

There's a pandemic going out there. I suppose you could argue your case for a well needed break. Or forget resting for now. It's up to you.

I know what you mean OP, its a difficult time for everyone especially having to continue going into work and tackle a huge workload with no extra resources.

If it must go ahead, is it possible your team could split the duties so that you can all still have one extra day off?

I'm kicking myself for having no annual leave booked until May. A couple of colleagues booked the Easter holidays so they have that to look forward to. I'm exhausted.

I can understand to a certain extent but surely they could manage with a skeleton staff. Everyone has a limit and if your all sick what happens then, sounds like their being a bit short sightedness.

There's a pandemic going out there. I suppose you could argue your case for a well needed break.

Seems harsh for someone who acknowledges that it's probably selfish but was disappointed to lose their upcoming break. They were not arguing it was unfair or unreasonable, just that losing it has upset them.

I actually don't think it is selfish to be sad at losing those days off. It might be selfish to refuse to work them, I guess, but just being sad at losing them does not seem like a crime to me.

FWIW OP, I think informing people by email
When you've been working with them all day is cowardly but perhaps right now having that face to face conversation was also just a step too far for people already struggling.

I know it's not the same but can you make a weekend feel a bit more like a break - perhaps by not doing any housey jobs and instead just doing nice things?

You weren't given any notice because they werent either. The law was changed to allow this end of last week and practices were only informed on Monday I think ? I was only told I've got to work bank holidays yesterday too and I'm clinical.

and for you, OP and for everyone having to work over the coming Bank Holidays, especially those who didn't expect to.

Surely our Bank Holidays are part of our Annual leave? They can't just Cancel them?? Do hosp personel get to keep them for a later date?

It’s happened at the practice I work at as well. I was half expecting it.

They're working to change the law so you can put annual leave from this year into the next two years instead, so that any not taken this year will be spread out when things are better.

That would be better but if they offer to pay you in lieu do you have to take that?

GPs were told last week that they would have to remain open over the easter weekend. They don't have any say in the matter - NHSE directive

twitter.com/pulsetoday/status/1245028922154274816?s=20

GP practices in England will need to stay open over the Easter - and possibly May - bank holidays this year as NHS England confirmed they are to be treated as ordinary working days.

In a letter to GPs on the 'emerging Covid-19 situation', NHS England said it would make changes to the GP contract to mean Good Friday and Easter Monday (10 and 13 April) are now to be identified as 'normal working days'.

They added that this could also be the case for the two May bank holidays, but this will not be confirmed until April.

NHS England's letter said: 'Practices and the wider NHS will continue to be under ever-increasing pressure over the coming weeks, including through Easter (10 and 13 April) and, looking forward, to May bank holidays (8 and 25 May).

'We need your help to be prepared and aligned with the rest of the NHS, which will be treating these as ordinary working days and cancelling staff annual leave to ensure services are able to be maintained.

'To enable this, changes to the GP contract coming imminently mean the April dates will now be identified as normal working days for GP practices, so that we can manage demand together. The position for the May bank holidays will be confirmed next month.'

This is to stop people crowding out A&Es as usually happens when we have long weekends.The problem is so many decisions being made on the hoof and it all changes hour to hour in the nhs.
Sorry this doesn't help much OP

I hope we all get them cancelled though, and the days awarded another time - it shouldn't be one rule for NHS or public sector and another for everyone else.

@Oxyiz it is one rule for some and a different rule for others ordinarily. Most workers get only 4 weeks annual leave per year, that's much less than the public sector. Many many workers routinely work bank holidays too.

I agree this is tough on you, but please don't think your alone in this.

Yes schools too, it was passed in the latest act. Not much of an Easter but we need to get on with it.

I'm in the same situation, was expecting the 4 days Easter break and BH, now I'll have to be working. It's ok, it's a one off, it's doing our bit for society in a crisis time. I assume you'll be able to take the time off in lieu and it's not as if you'll be missing a big family celebration.

I get your dissapointment but after this is over you will caring on getting bank holidays .
Many jobs now don't recognise bank holiday and you work as normal so apart form current situation you are luck to get them many people in hard demanding jobs never get them .

I am a GP receptionist and totally understand that we need to open and am more than happy to work but I am not happy that I have the week of Easter Monday as holiday and a colleague asked me if I was working the Monday or if I want to use my holiday allowance to cover the day. It turns out we are having our bank holidays taken away not being given them back in lieu and not being paid. Those staff who do not work the days are having the extra holiday hours added to their holiday entitlement taken back as well. Can they do that if our contracts state that in addition to bank holidays we have x amount of days. What are other surgeries doing?

Op I’m in the same situation.
I know why but I’m also cheesed off.

Had no holiday since Xmas bank holidays ( other people took annual leave so I kept things going ) and was supposed to have a “ big holiday “ for 3 weeks over Easter.

Naturally that’s not happening - but then to loose the 2 days as well with no prospect of time off till probably July ?

We know burn out is a thing. I’ve been there. It didn’t make me more productive it made me proper ill. This is a marathon we are starting and we need to look after ourselves.

a colleague asked me if I was working the Monday or if I want to use my holiday allowance to cover the day

The NHS England directive was to cancel annual leave over the Easter break

Does anyone know what the bank holiday pay is? My contract doesn't actually state is as normally we wouldn't be in

I'm so sorry you aren't getting your break. That's really awful. I hope it's made up to you when the crisis abates. Thank you with my whole heart for all you and your colleagues are doing to help us.