Aug 12

Strike on the cards at Dorset hospitals in outsourcing dispute

  • 12 August 2025

Healthcare staff at three NHS trusts in Dorset say they want to vote for strike action in a row over plans to move 1,700 staff from the NHS to an external company.

An overwhelming majority (98%) of members, including porters and cleaners, have backed plans for an industrial action ballot, which is set to open in the coming weeks. Any action could result in widespread disruption across the region.

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, or subco.

The controversial plan goes against government promises to bring employees back into the NHS, rather than outsource them. Ahead of the 2024 general election, Labour said it would “bring about the biggest wave of insourcing of public services in a generation.”

Demonstrators on the street. Some are holding a flag that says 'UNISON Dorset health branch, public services not private profit. Another holds a placard with the words 'UNISON, one team one NHS'

The staff affected are currently employed at hospitals across Dorset including 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.

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,” Ms Baigent continued. “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.”

The article Strike on the cards at Dorset hospitals in outsourcing dispute first appeared on the UNISON National site.