NURSING staff on Bolton's mental health wards have hit out in a row about pay.

Dozens of health care assistantsat the Royal Bolton Hospital are in talks with their union, Unison.

They claim that they are paid less money than their Salford counterparts.

In April, Bolton and Salford merge their mental health services.

As reported in the BEN, the manager of Bolton's mental health service Ron Howard assured staff that the merger would be "a huge leap forward for Bolton". Bolton staff say Salford care assistants are paid higher rates of pay and will continue to receive a bigger pay packet, for doing the same hours.

One nurse, who does not wish to be named, said: "They can come out with £500 more than we do each month for working the same shifts. "We are doing the same job in Bolton. For 12 months now we have been promised that our pay will be increased slightly.

"We have been left stunned by the news that there is not enough money in the pot to put Bolton workers on an equal footing with Salford. People will be appalled at just how badly paid health care assistants are in Bolton."

A Unison spokesman said: "We will make every attempt to get equal pay. If they are doing the same job, they should be getting the same pay.

"We are working hard at the moment to make sure staff are treated equally in the merger."

No one from the hospital trust was available for comment.