Domestic workers at a County Durham hospital say being told they would not receive a lump sum for their work during the pandemic is "a kick in the teeth".

The workers at Bishop Auckland Hospital have expressed their disappointment after receiving the news that they would not be getting the back pay, unlike some doing similar jobs at neighbouring hospitals.

The domestics have been given a wage increase of five per cent, but some at the University Hospital of North Durham and Darlington Memorial Hospital have also recieved a lump sum, believed to be about £1,600.

A spokesperson for County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust said the one-off payment was determined nationally and funded for NHS employees only.

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They added the Trust has a contract with Criterion who sub-contract domestic work at Bishop Auckland to a company called ISS, rather than the NHS.

Victoria Mabbett, from Bishop Auckland, who has worked as domestic staff at the hospital for 18 years, said the news had made her "angry" and said she and other workers deserve the same deal.

She said: "At the end of the day, we deserve it. It's not fair that other companies are getting it and we don't.

"We have to fight all the time for our pay rise, and the price of things going up all the time, cost-of-living, you just want a decent pay.

"There's a lot of people that thought they would be getting it, and to find out they're not going to pay us, it's a kick in the teeth.

"We all work very hard in this hospital, it's disheartening that we can't get it. Something needs to be done about it."

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Domestic staff at the hospital includes cleaners and ward hostesses, caterers, and porters.

Mrs Mabbett said she hopes the situation can be sorted, an explanation can be given for the lump sum refusal, and that workers can get money they are entitled to.

A spokesperson for County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust said: “The Trust has a contract with Criterion Healthcare for the provision of some services at Bishop Auckland Hospital, including domestic services.  

"Criterion Healthcare sub-contract this work to ISS and therefore domestic staff at Bishop Auckland Hospital are employed by ISS rather than the NHS.

"The one-off lump sum payment was determined nationally and funded for NHS employees only.

"The Trust values everyone who contributes to ensuring our patients receive good care and experience and, as part of the contract with ISS, pays an annual inflationary increase in line with the retail price index, to cover pay increases.”

An ISS spokesperson said: "ISS greatly values the contribution of all our employees.

"While the one-off lump sum has been funded for NHS employees only, we will continue working closely with the NHS to ensure our people are recognised for the vital role they play in serving patients and supporting NHS colleagues at Bishop Auckland Hospital.”

Linda Brown, from Bishop Auckland, who has worked at the hospital for 31 years, said she was very disappointed with the news, given their many years of service.

She said: "The morale is very low at the moment, it makes us feel like we've been singled out."

She said the union representative has been contacted and the matter has been raised to them, with a meeting set to take place soon.

Winifred Adams, 59, from Bishop Auckland, has worked at the hospital for around 30 years and said she had been left feeling downtrodden by the news.

She said: "I work full-time so I should have been awarded the £1,600 plus the five per cent [pay rise]."

Margaret Knighton, from Bishop Auckland, who has worked as a domestic at the hospital for 25 years, said she felt "degraded" by the pay offer.

She questioned why domestics at other hospitals in the Trust had received the lump sum and they had not, and also said they had received their pay rise later than Bishop Auckland hospital's nurses.

She said: "It's not fair, we all do the same kind of work."

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When asked what she would like to see done, she added: "I would like to see the back money get paid. It was all together for the nurses and everybody in the Trust."

UNISON Northern regional secretary Clare Williams said: “UNISON is in contact with the employer to discuss ways to resolve outstanding back pay.”