Update on phlebotomy dispute

Working together in partnership, including with mediated support from ACAS, we shaped two fair and positive options to help bring this dispute to an end, which UNISON and phlebotomy representatives proposed to take to ballot.

Despite our best efforts, UNISON have confirmed that the phlebotomists have rejected both offers.

On behalf of the phlebotomists, UNISON is now requesting that the Trust re-band the phlebotomy roles to Band 3 and provide five years of back pay.

They are also seeking a commitment from the Trust to protect these roles and the delivery of phlebotomy services for a minimum of 24 months, despite the improvements for patients seen since the strike began.

This is surprising and disappointing as both options reflected what was agreed with the phlebotomy representatives and UNISON prior to the vote and the demand is outside of any normal process that governs the pay or terms and conditions for NHS staff.

The first offer was for the national Job Evaluation Group panel to convene an independent panel to review the role to determine its banding.

The second offer was for a new Band 3 Phlebotomy Outpatient Health Care Support Worker role with better pay, a one-off payment to recognise the length of the strike, enhanced training, career development, and improved facilities.

UNISON and the lead phlebotomist representative themselves proposed to take these options to ballot, and we welcomed this as a transparent and fair way forward.

Both options directly address the issues phlebotomists have consistently raised:

• Recognition for the role, through either an external independent review panel or a new higher banded role;
• Better pay, which has been offered through the new Band 3 role;
• Pay considerations that recognise the length of the strike, which have been fully explored and offered through the joint negotiations;

Phlebotomy colleagues noted concerns about the internal processes following three job evaluation panels which all failed to reach consensus.

Since July 2025 the Trust has suggested we jointly commission a national independent Job Evaluation Panel to determine the banding of the role.

This is in line with the rules and process agreed between Trade Unions and NHS Employers, but has been repeatedly rejected.

The Trust has negotiated in good faith throughout and has taken a measured and reasonable approach, balancing fairness for phlebotomists and importantly, fairness and consistency for Band 3 Healthcare Support Workers across the organisation and the other 9,000 colleagues who work to support patient care across the Trust.

We recognise the disruption the strike has caused for those taking part, and we want to support them in returning to work.

In order to successfully achieve this, we must balance the phlebotomists’ requests against service need.

Due to the length of the strike, we have had to adapt how these services are provided for our patients.

Despite challenges, we have maintained the safe running of services, and in a number of areas have even improved the provision, with earlier blood sample processing and faster patient discharges.

These are improvements we want to continue, as they make a real difference to patients which is always our focus.

We will continue to work with Unison on this issue and our aim remains to resolve the dispute as soon as possible in a way that is fair, sustainable and maintains the improvements in services for patients