Mistakes see Northampton General Hospital staff not paid for unsocial hours and extra shifts

Pay packets of some Northampton General Hospital staff were short by as much as £1,500 after a payroll error.
Northampton General Hospital Billing Road entrance. ENGNNL00120121206174914Northampton General Hospital Billing Road entrance. ENGNNL00120121206174914
Northampton General Hospital Billing Road entrance. ENGNNL00120121206174914

The Chron understands the issue was due to several managers making the same mistake while using the computerised roster.

As a result, a large number of staff did not have monthly enhancements officially signed off.

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It meant that, on pay day, the money was therefore not electronically transferred to their bank accounts as usual.

The Chron understands that clerical and switchboard staff as well as porters and domestic staff are some of the roles affected.

NGH admitted yesterday it would be impossible to reimburse staff in full before their next pay day, in May.

One member of hospital staff said: “We’ve been told there are 40 different departments affected and I’ve spoken to dozens of people who are short by between £1,500 and £400. Some have mortgages or maintenance payments or builders to pay. I’ve seen one man break down in tears. I’ve never seen a bloke cry like that. It completely wrecks your life.”

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Another said: “I’ve got children and no idea at the moment how I’ve going to feed them this week.

“Do [NGH] know what that feels like?”

Enhancements include payments for working unsocial hours or for additional shifts. The delays have not affected basic salary.

A spokeswoman for Northampton General Hospital said: “We can confirm that some of our employees have not received their enhancement payments this month.

“The staff groups affected are those who work in corporate support services. It does not affect our ward-based nursing or medical staff.

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“We are very sorry about the situation and fully appreciate how upsetting any delay in payment is for those affected staff.

“We’re looking at how we can support those employees who will be particularly adversely affected by the delay and details will be circulated to department managers.”

The Chron understands that affected staff are being prioritised based on the urgency of their financial commitments.

Payroll will then arrange for a portion of the outstanding amounts to be paid as a stop-gap.

However, the hospital has admitted that some people will have to wait until next month to get any due payments at all.