NURSES and healthcare assistants in hospitals in the region are being supported in a drive to get them paid the overtime they are owed.

As part of a national campaign, the Royal College of Nursing Northern Region has launched a campaign to support nurses and healthcare assistants (HCAs) in Darlington and Durham claim for unpaid overtime.

Nurses and HCAs across the country, including those employed by Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust (TEWV), will be invited to submit claims for the true amount of overtime that they are working.

Local RCN stewards and representatives will be at West Park Hospital in Darlington, and West Lanchester Road Hospital in Durham to help staff with claiming process.

They will be holding stalls to support both day-shift and night-shift workers record their true hours on specially designed forms.

These forms will then be submitted to management for payment of overtime or reclaim of hours on a monthly basis.

Gordon Lees, a nurse and employee of the TEWV NHS Trust, as well as council member and chair of the RCN Northern Region board, said: “Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust has a robust policy to remunerate nurses and HCAs who have to work extra overtime.

“But sometimes, nurses and HCAs feel that they cannot claim for all the extra overtime they undertake.

“This is part of a broader, national problem.

“The Government is trying to run the NHS on the cheap.

“The RCN is therefore launching this campaign to support nurses and HCAs across the region to claim for what they are entitled to.”

He added that he was confident the management at the Trust would honour contracts and pay staff the correct amount for overtime.

The campaign is being supported by Dr Peter Carter OBE, the RCN’s national chief executive and general secretary who said “enough was enough” when it comes to the ongoing underpayment of hardworking nursing staff.

In the coming weeks, nurses and HCAs across the wider trust and the region will also be supported in making claims for unpaid overtime if they contact the RCN regional office. Members who would like to take part are being encouraged to download overtime claim forms from http://whatif.rcn.org.uk/index.php/pages/whatcanyoudo

If any nurse or HCA has any questions about how to take part and be remunerated for their true working hours, they should call RCN Direct on 0345-772-6100.