NHS notice issues

sacha28

Asking on behalf of a friend (genuinely)...
Friend is a band 5 nurse and handed her one month notice a month ago, which was accepted by her manager. Today, 2 days before what she thought was her final shift, her manager has approached her and informed her that her notice period is actually 2 months and she is required to work another month. The notice period was, and had been for a very long time, 4 weeks but this has apparently been lengthened due to horrendous staff shortages and insanely long recruitment times. 
As friend moved from one department to another she wasn't provided with a contract to sign, so can't reference this. Her question is, given her resignation of one month was accepted by her manager, does she have any chance of being able to finish when planned? Or will she have to work the extra month they have today told her that she has to work?

TELLIT01

Ask for the written evidence that the notice period has been increased to 2 months, and that she was informed of this.  If no proof can be provided she would be free to stick to the 1 month notice period.  If that is the situation she should put in writing that she will be leaving in accordance with the required notice period of one month.

TheSpiddalKid

Notice in NHS is based on bands. bands 1 - 4 are 4 weeks, bands 5 - 7 is 8 weeks and bands 8a - 9 is 12 weeks. it is outlined within the agenda for change handbook

Practically, did your friend get anything in writing acknowledging their resignation and confirming the leave date? If so this could be seen as an acceptance of offering less than contractual notice. 

Giddypip

TheSpiddalKid said:

Notice in NHS is based on bands. bands 1 - 4 are 4 weeks, bands 5 - 7 is 8 weeks and bands 8a - 9 is 12 weeks. it is outlined within the agenda for change handbook

Not true

I've resigned from 2 band 7 posts and had to give 12 weeks notice each time

Giddypip

sacha28 said:

As friend moved from one department to another she wasn't provided with a contract to sign, so can't reference this. Her question is, given her resignation of one month was accepted by her manager, does she have any chance of being able to finish when planned? Or will she have to work the extra month they have today told her that she has to work?

Does your friend have written confirmation that the notice period was accepted? If yes, there isn't much the manager can do to make her stay. Is your friend in a union? Might be worth giving them a call.

Savvy_Sue

Definitely one for the union. 

Own_Worst_Enermy

Giddypip said:

TheSpiddalKid said:

Notice in NHS is based on bands. bands 1 - 4 are 4 weeks, bands 5 - 7 is 8 weeks and bands 8a - 9 is 12 weeks. it is outlined within the agenda for change handbook

Not true

I've resigned from 2 band 7 posts and had to give 12 weeks notice each time

+1

To be a band 2 Nursing Assistant (AKA - HCA) at my nearest trust, I noted from the application bumph it was stated, they required two months notice.