Any NHS nurses who can advise me about a shift l pulled out of?

[NorthSouthcatlady]

I’m bank at an NHS trust, l had a bank shift booked tonight but woke up this morning ill. I have some COVID type symptoms: temperature, headache, fatigue and aches / pains. I rang up and cancelled my shift then went for a PCR. When l cancelled my shift we agreed I would have a PCR test done, would update then about the outcome, inform the trusts track and trace about it. All good

This evening l realised they cancelled my shifts for the foreseeable. This isn’t what we agreed, my next shift wasn’t until the 29th but still cancelled anyway The trust can be a bit shady so l want to make sure lm clear about what my rights are. I had thought l would be paid for tonight. I was only trying to do the right thing! I didn’t want to ruin any patients or staff members Christmas

Do you think they cancelled them anticipating a positive result maybe so you wouldn't be available anyway?

You won’t be paid for the shift for tonight - bank staff don’t get sick pay (on our trust anyway) .
Also I know our trust has a policy of a shift(or 2 shifts I can’t remember which) is/are cancelled at short notice then you are not allowed to do any further shifts for 3 months - you are automatically banned and removed from the bank for 3 months basically.

My trust would cancel the 10 days ahead just on case, so they can get cover.

Do you normally get sick pay on the bank?

I think you have to give 24 hours notice or it’s just counted as a non attendance of shift

Just copied the below from an email sent out to our bank staff.

Might be different at your trust but just in case

Please note, from 1st Sep onwards, any Bank/Agency staff who cancels 3 shifts and/or DNA’s a shift, with less than 48 hours’ notice, in a 3 month period, will be blocked Trust wide from booking shifts for 3 months.

So I think usual practice with bank is you only get paid if you work it...like overtime... otherwise there would be no real motivation to work.
If you've cancelled more than once at short notice you may find they enact a policy like the above. Obv in this circumstance you were doing exactly the right thing, but unfortunately even for the right reasons I don't think I know of places that pay for Bank that hasn't been worked.

My understanding was due to COVID we weren’t to be out of pocket if we cancel shifts.

From here: www.nhsemployers.org/articles/covid-19-pay-faqs

It’s says “3. What should a bank member of staff be paid if they need to self-isolate?

Full pay by way of reference period or based on what work they had booked prior to going into self-isolation. This applies to staff who have a bank only contract as well as substantive staff who also hold a bank contract with their employer”

I literally never cancel shifts short notice. But l was rough at 11am when l woke up and feel worse now

@NorthSouthcatlady

My understanding was due to COVID we weren’t to be out of pocket if we cancel shifts.

From here: www.nhsemployers.org/articles/covid-19-pay-faqs

It’s says “3. What should a bank member of staff be paid if they need to self-isolate?

Full pay by way of reference period or based on what work they had booked prior to going into self-isolation. This applies to staff who have a bank only contract as well as substantive staff who also hold a bank contract with their employer”

This is just guidance though.....ultimately trusts will do their own thing

@kitcat15 boo. The trust try to do the bare minimum and are shifty. E.g. when l got my band 6 they claimed for months they didn’t have the paperwork so couldn’t increase my pay. Plus when l was a band 6 and did overtime they paid at band 5. But the favoured few (often male!) would get paid as a 6

I’ve been thinking of shifting to a bank contract elsewhere so this is food for thought

Can you take this up with HR if you are with the local Trust bank? (Or was it NHSp?)

I personally would think of another agency, if you've other issues with their booking system. But you have to consider your wider circs regarding income etc before you make the leap, some shifts are released first on the bank before putting out to agency so you may not get the ward/shift you want/need if working for a other company.

A trust that has a blanket ban for sick workers for three months, when it is short of such workers, needs its Head looking at.

Somebody local should ask their MP to enquire into the policy.

Sounds awful. This is exactly the sort of stupid behaviour that drives staff away and into expensive agencies.

I think you need to contact the Bank team and discuss it direct with them. Try to speak to someone a bit higher up.

In our trust bank staff do get paid if they are self isolating but I think it is discretionary now as some people were taking the piss! Not suggesting that is you at all.

They shouldn’t have preemptively cancelled future shifts but they may be taking a pragmatic approach and trying to ensure cover. Ask them about that too, hopefully you will be negative and able to go back to work.

UPDATE: l was positive, ironically l started to feel better after l had the test. But did wake up quite tired today

Bank team have got back to me to say they will pay me. They are people of few words so not sure if that’s policy, because lm positive or l very rarely phone in sick