Movement for nhs staff

[Delamereroad]

Asking for friend ….

Her daughter is a community physio.

After returning from maternity leave her community base was moved to one some 15 miles further from home.This caused child care problems and extra expenses etc.The nhs trust I understand paid her extra mileage to the new base but she found the extra travelling at peak times exhausting.

She suffers from Crohns disease and the stress of it (she believes) caused a flare and she off work for four months.

Upon her return her base has been changed again to one even further away an extra 12 miles,

So basically from working at a health centre 5 miles from home . she was moved to one 20 miles from home and after being off she is now based at one 32 miles from home.

I think she is going to hand in her notice- due to it no longer being an option for her to work - increased child care costs travel time etc.Also doesn't want to risk her health being compromised.
I think she might be better to put a grievance in - but limited knowledge of employment law and public sector etc.

Might it also fall under constructive dismissal?

She is a senior physio and band 7 and has 14 years experience and has been with this nhs trust her whole career.

Any HR people or union types who could help?

Her mum is staying with me this weekend and is so upset re the whole business. Suggested we try the power of mumsnet.

She should see occy health and see if they can support before handing her notice in, they sometimes come up trumps and may be able to get moved / reduced hours etc.

I don’t see how this is constructive dismissal at all

She should read her contract carefully, the nhs seem to move staff all over he place without much thought of how it can impact on people. H.r, and occy health might be a good place to start with the legalities. Did they give a reason for the move or why the base has been moved, has she a union rep she could speak to.

Thanks all

Greendale- my understanding was that if an employers actions make it difficult for you to continue in your employment it can be constructive dismissal- or if a 'hostile environment' within workplace is created.

I am no expert - my background is in media and I remember covering cases years ago where I needed to read up on employment law.Very out of date now.

It would depend if it was just her home base that had moved or everyones. If it was everyone's . It would be very difficult to prove.

No just her that has been moved.
She has to cover a different area /different hospitals.

She is deemed 'most experienced' but there are other physios on same grade who haven't been moved.

She should ask why she was chosen to move, if anyone else was asked and if not, why not. Is it that she has particular skills that the others on the same grade don't have. Most managers I know in the nhs get moved to other areas, they call it transferable skills, and reconfiguration. Was she told that changes were taking place, rather than leave would she see if there are jobs in the hospital rather than community. I think she needs to talk to h.r. and her union. She should also ask if there was any discussion around moving bases whilst she was off.