NHS staff closer to walking out in Dorset outsourcing row
The UNISON union says strikes are on the cards amid plans which would lead to 'widespread disruption'
Last updated 7th Aug 2025
The UNISON union says strikes are on the cards amid plans which would lead to 'widespread disruption' - with healthcare staff at three local NHS trusts backing plans to walk out.
An overwhelming majority (98%) of health workers, including porters and cleaners, say they want to vote for strike action in a row over moves to shift 1,700 staff from the NHS to an external company.
The NHS foundation trusts – Dorset HealthCare University, Dorset County Hospital, and University Hospitals Dorset – want to move the mainly low-paid support workers to a wholly owned subsidiary company, also known as a subco.
UNISON said the controversial plan goes against government promises to bring employees back into the NHS, rather than outsource them.
The staff affected are currently employed at hospitals across Dorset including at Dorset County, Royal Bournemouth, Poole, Christchurch, and Weymouth.
UNISON says these workers fear they’ll receive inferior pay and conditions, and be unable to access career opportunities available to NHS employees if they’re contracted out to an external operator.
'The NHS depends on these workers'
UNISON south west regional secretary Kerry Baigent said: “The NHS depends on these workers to keep hospitals clean, safe and running efficiently. Many are already low-paid and outsourcing will leave them with a raw deal.
“Porters, cleaners and other staff want to be part of the NHS, working as one team to give patients the best care possible.
“But this move casts valuable employees out to an arms-length company with no guarantee over pay and conditions.
“The NHS needs to be rebuilt, not dismantled and parcelled off to the lowest bidder. The government needs to honour its pledge to insource public services.
“This plan by these trusts goes against Labour’s manifesto promise. It makes support staff feel they’re not valued – and they won’t be treated in this way.”
'Highly valued colleagues'
Siobhan Harrington, Chief Executive of University Hospitals Dorset, and Matthew Bryant, Chief Executive of Dorset County Hospital and Dorset HealthCare, told us: “Staff working in Estates, Facilities Management and Procurement are highly valued colleagues and absolutely central to the provision of safe, effective patient care.
"We are committed to engaging with them to protect services across Dorset and maintain long-term security for staff.
"Any new subsidiary company would be 100 per cent owned by Dorset County Hospital, Dorset HealthCare and University Hospitals Dorset.
"Very importantly colleagues would retain their NHS terms and conditions, and their NHS pension."