Hospital staff worked 120,000 hours of overtime in 2016

Thursday 13 July 2017

Hospital staff are now working 48% more overtime than they did five years ago, it has been revealed, with the majority coming from managing the buildings.

Figures released under the Freedom of Information law showed that the hospital team across all departments collectively worked more than 120,000 hours of overtime last year, compared with 81,405 in 2011.

Those working in theatres and anaesthetics conducted 10,310 hours of work outside of ‘normal’ working hours – the highest amount for any non-maintenance role – accounting for pay-outs of nearly £200,000. Ambulance staff worked an additional 9,285 hours and gained £241,345 for their efforts, while clinical support employees took on 7,343 extra hours (£196,962).

Estates and Facilities Management staff took on the most additional work, however. Together, the departments took on more than 81,000 extra hours, leading to payments of more than £1million in 2016. This was more than half of the total sum of overtime payments, which totalled £1,855,118. 

Pictured: Theatre and anaesthetic staff worked over 10,000 hours outside of their usual working day.

The analysis included overtime hours and costs for all rates of pay, but it is unknown how many staff took on unpaid overtime work.

A recent NHS staff survey found that 72% of staff regularly worked both paid and unpaid overtime. Under NHS guidance, standard full-time NHS staff work around 37.5 hours per week, while doctors reach around 48 – in line with EU work laws.

Jersey is exempt from these laws, however, and there is no limit to the amount of hours employees can be contracted to work in one day nor is there a provision for a statutory lunch and/or tea breaks, although employers are encouraged to bear this in mind.

Pictured: Hospital maintenance staff worked the most overtime of any department.

Commenting on the figures, a Health and Social Services Department spokesperson said:

“The overtime costs for the General Hospital should be viewed in the context of a department that employs around 2,500 people with a total wage/salary bill of £112million.

“Estates and Facilities have accounted for around £1million of overtime costs in recent years – this reflects the housekeeping costs required to keep the Hospital clean, especially during the winter season when infections are most common, and the maintenance that’s required for an ageing building. This work is essential to maintain the Hospital’s safe operation and high standards of care, while work continues on the new hospital project.”

But efforts are now being made to bring down these costs through refined working practices.

The spokesperson added: “HSSD is looking to reduce overtime costs for Estates and Facilities through the introduction of LEAN working practices, an electronic rostering system that provides greater flexibility in shift patterns and the recruitment of more staff in some areas.”