A ROW between hospital staff and management over new working conditions has been resolved.

Union officials were drafted in yesterday to resolve the dispute which centred on changes to the porter service at the Friarage Hospital, Northallerton, North Yorkshire.

After a two-hour meeting between Unison representatives and managers from the South Tees Hospitals NHS Trust, both sides said they were happy with the outcome.

Seventeen porters were angry that new conditions could threaten jobs and lead to loss of earnings.

But following the meeting with the union, Paul Birch, the trust's hospital services manager, had talks with the porters and insisted their jobs will be safeguarded.

He said: "I quite understand their fears about loss of income, but they have all been given assurances that will not happen.

"In October 2004, the Agenda for Change will supersede anything they are on anyway. Therefore, for the next 12 months, these changes should not affect them financially.

"They are very capable staff. I have just got to convince them that what we are doing is for improving the service we provide.

"This is not an exercise to get rid of jobs or to save money.

"It is to improve service delivery through the portering service."

Unison area officer Ray Gray said: "We have asked for assurances in writing which management have said they will do."