Healthcare assistants at Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust have voted to accept an offer of back pay to compensate for tasks carried out above their pay grade, union Unison has revealed.

The healthcare assistants have been employed on band two of the NHS Agenda for Change salary scale, but have for years undertaken clinical duties, which fall under the higher band three, claimed the union.

A negotiating committee of healthcare workers was set up last year to talk directly with the trust, which resulted in all band two staff carrying out clinical duties being moved up to band 3 earlier this year.

An offer of back pay compensation to August 2021 was initially made by the trust, which staff voted overwhelmingly to reject. But under the new deal, hundreds of band two staff will now receive back pay from August 2020.

The trust has also confirmed no healthcare assistants will need to move departments as part of their ‘rebanding’.

Unison Yorkshire and Humberside regional organiser Sarah Brummitt said: “It’s been fantastic to see the healthcare assistants negotiate directly with managers and secure such a significant outcome.

“Not only have the staff achieved a better agreement over back pay, they’ve also received confirmation that nobody will be required to change departments when they’re moved up a band.”