4 TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 2015 LEICESTER MERCURY

LDM-E01-S2 LM03 4

‘I’m not coming in until youthrow out the rolling pin!’

Horace & Doris

NEWS Like us on FacebookF a c e b o o k . c o m / l e i c e s t e r m e rc u r y

Merger triggers jobloss fears at hospitals

H E A LT H

THE jobs of catering anddomestic staff at Leicester’sthree hospitals are set to bemerged, leading to fears thatscores of jobs will be lost.

Interserve, the companywhich runs the two services,is looking to shave off 5,000working hours per week.

Union officials and healthcampaigners are worried thechanges will lead to morethan 100 job losses, and adrop in the standard ofpatient care.

A 45-day consultation onthe changes began on March2, with any changes likely tobe completed by September.

BY CATHY BUSSHealth Correspondent

The staff consultationdocument says the review islikely to lead to new shiftpatterns.

Mandy Marsden, branchsecretary of Unison’sLeicestershire health branch,said: “Our members are veryconcerned. We want moredetail about the proposalsand their impact.”

Colin Whyatt, of the GMBunion, said: “This is just an-other attempt to reduceworking terms and condi-tions.

❚❙ Campaigners worried about standards of patient care

“Interserve clearly can’t af-ford this contract.”

An Interserve spokesmansaid it was appointed in 2013to make “efficiencies and im-prove services”.

He said: “We are nowbeginning a consultationwith employees and unionson changes to the structure ofour cleaning and cateringoperations at Leicester’shospitals.

“Rather than reviewing thenumber of roles, we arereviewing the hours requiredto deliver the agreed standardof service.

“The number of people af-

fected will vary depending onthe agreed shift patterns andservice models.”

He said the full impact ofany changes would not beknown until the end of theconsultation.

The spokesman added:“These proposals, which havebeen agreed with Leicester’shospitals, will ensure wecontinue to comply with thehospital’s specifications, andwe remain committed tomaintaining the highestlevels of service.

“Services remain compliantwith the trust’s specificationsand are regularly reviewed.”

Health campaigner ZuffarHaq, a member of theLeicester Mercury Patients’Panel, said: “Interserve is try-ing to cut corners that havealready been cut.

“Cleaning, maintenanceand food at Leicester’s hos-pitals has all suffered badlyever since Interserve tookover. It is ridiculous it wantsto cut services and patientswill suffer.”

A spokesman for Leicester’shospitals said: “We supportthis consultation and contin-ue to work closely with In-terserve to deliver the bestpossible service.”

CASES heard beforeLeicester Magistrates’Court include:

Rachel Elizabeth Herald(28), of SparkenhoeStreet, Highfields,Leicester, pleaded guiltyto stealing clothing worth£492.74 from New Look,Humberstone Gate,Leicester, on January 30.She was dischargedconditionally for twoyears and ordered to paya £15 victim surcharge.

David Anthony Barr (52),of New Fields Avenue,Braunstone, pleadedguilty to stealing itemsworth £361.96 fromTesco, Bradgate Mall,Leicester, on January 16.He was committed toprison for six weeks sus-pended for 12 months,during which he wasordered to attend proba-tion appointments. Barrwas also ordered to payan £80 victim surcharge.

Katrina Griffiths (27), ofHallam Crescent East,Braunstone, pleadedguilty to using threaten-ing, abusive or insultingwords of behaviour withintent to cause fear of orprovoke unlawful violenceon November 9. She wasdischarged conditionallyfor 23 months andordered to pay £100costs and a £15 victims u rc h a rg e .

Jack Withers (21), ofChestnut Way, MeltonMowbray, pleaded guiltyto being drunk and dis-orderly in Gravel Street,Leicester city centre, onJanuary 31. He was fined£70 with £85 costs and a£20 victim surcharge.

in the courts..................................

SCHOOLCHILDREN havehanded out food parcels tofamilies on a Leicesterestate.

Youngsters from theMadani Schools Federation,a secondary school in Eving-ton Valley Road, Leicester,collected basic food itemssuch as bread and milk.

More than a dozen pupilshelped deliver the items toresidents in Thurnby Lodge.

The project was run by theschool and the Peace Centrefood bank, based inThurncourt Road.

Hussein Suleman, chair ofgovernors at the school,said: “As part of thestudents’ development, weactively encourage them toget involved with all parts ofthe community.

“The children were keen towork with residents in areassuch as Thurnby Lodge.

“They have learned aboutsocial responsibility andhelping others but it has alsogiven them a greaterunderstanding of poverty.”

Khadija Begum, a year 10student, said: “It’s vital welearn about the importanceof helping others so we werereally pleased to get thiso p p o r t u n i t y. ”

Kind-hearted pupils hand out food parcelsMADANI SCHOOLS FEDERATION

PICTURE: MATT SHORTLEMA20150318C-004

HELPING HAND:Mohammad IssaShort, 11, andKhadija Begum, 15,with some of the food

Do you know someone who makesyour community a better place?

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

Nominate yourlocal hero nowCall Nikki for an entry form on0116 222 4310 or download it atwww.leicestermercury.co.uk/

prideofleicestershire

SPONSORED BY