1.2 Six of the eight Public Holidays have been agreed nationally, Good Friday and Easter Monday, December 25 and 26, and January 1 and 2 (or next Monday and Tuesday if any of these dates fall on a Saturday or Sunday).
1.3 The remaining two Public Holiday dates are agreed at individual NHS Scotland Board level by the Area Partnership Forum. In 2005, NHS Ayrshire and Arran agreed that these two Public Holidays would be the Spring Holiday (last Monday in May) and what is locally known as ‘Gold Cup Friday’ (a Friday in mid September).
1.4 These two dates are not set permanently but should be reviewed regularly, and can be changed by the decision of the Area Partnership Forum.
2 Proposal
2.1 At its meeting of July 2009 a number of members of the North Ayrshire Locality Partnership Forum voiced concerns from staff employed within the locality in relation to the date of the ‘Spring Holiday’.
2.2 There was a clear feeling from Forum members that the ‘Spring Holiday’ resulted, in certain departments and areas, in difficulties both in providing adequate services and ensuring that staff were able to access leave on days that time off was required due to the closure of other non-NHS services, mainly local authority.
2.3 It was discussed whether it was possible for the North Locality Area to have different Public Holidays from other parts of NHS Ayrshire and Arran. It was felt that while this was technically possible, it would result in significant operational difficulties. It was, therefore, agreed that a request be made to the Area Partnership Forum to consider cancelling the ‘Spring Holiday’ Public Holiday for those staff on Agenda for Change terms and conditions and replacing it with the ‘May Day Holiday’ (first Monday in May).
3 Resource Implications
3.1 None
4 Conclusion
4.1 All members of the Area Partnership Forum should consult within their constituencies and determine whether to confirm the ‘Spring Holiday’ as a Public Holiday for those staff on Agenda for Change Terms and Conditions of Service within NHS Ayrshire and Arran, or to remove it as a designated holiday and replace it with the ‘May Day’ Public Holiday.
Gordon McKay
Joint Chair
North Ayrshire LPF
| Author: |
KWright |
| Date Posted: |
21/08/2009 |
