UNION chiefs are locked in top level talks with hospital bosses over a controversial review of wages.

Proposals to restructure the way in which health care assistants are paid at the Royal Bolton Hospital are being considered.

The plans have sparked outrage among the 150-plus staff affected, because they could lead to some losing up to 10 per cent of their wages.

Their anger has been compounded because the potential salary cuts come just weeks after Cliff Morris, the chairman of Royal Bolton Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, was awarded an £18,500 pay rise.

Unison informed staff about the proposals just two days before Christmas. The Bolton News understands the Trust wants to cut a flexibility allowance and only award it to staff who work unsociable hours.

It could mean that health care assistants who work mainly day shifts, or at day-only outpatients clinics, effectively lose around 10 per cent of their salary.

Health care assistants are among the lowest paid staff at the hospital, typically earning between £11,000 and £15,000.

They carry out a range of duties under the guidance of nurses, including washing and dressing patients, feeding, bed-making and monitoring patients’ conditions.

One health care assistant said: “The staff are very upset about this. We cannot believe they are trying to cut our wages when the chairman has just been given an £18,500 pay rise.”

Cllr Andy Morgan, chairman of Bolton Council’s health scrutiny committee, said: “It is a disgrace. The health care assistants are the backbone of this hospital and the way they are being treated is wrong.

“How can the Trust justify this when just last week they handed the chairman such a massive pay rise?”

Union chiefs have confirmed that they are in talks with hospital bosses about the plans. Harry Hanley, secretary of the Unison health branch, said: “I cannot say much because we are still in negotiations.”

The Bolton News asked the Trust why health care assistants had been chosen for the cuts, whether wage cuts were being considered for other staff and whether staff had been given formal notification of the proposals.

But each time, the Trust’s head of communications, Heather Edwards said she was unable to answer the questions due to ongoing discussions with Unison.