MORE than 50 NHS workers made redundant without compensation have received payouts following a Unison campaign.

Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust closed its site in Whalley, east Lancashire, with affected workers being promised an offer of alternative employment at its Aspen site in Liverpool or another trust in Lancashire on March 31.

Many were unable to make the 80-mile round trip to Liverpool each day and the posts in Lancashire failed to materialise.

Nonetheless, the trust refused to offer any redundancy pay to the workers, claiming that the alternative employment offered was sufficient.

The Unison members started a campaign to secure the compensation, with a petition gathering more than 1,400 signatures and member of the public sending letters to trust bosses, before redundancy pay was offered.

Former medical secretary Michelle Smith said: “Being laid off on Easter Sunday with no guarantee of alternative employment or redundancy pay was a horrible experience.

“I’ve worked in the NHS for 32 years. I couldn’t believe I was treated that way.”

Martin Garlick, the Unison representative at the hospital, said: “While it’s a shame it came to this, I’m proud of the Unison campaign and grateful for everyone in the community who supported these dedicated NHS staff.

“Alongside the campaign for redundancy pay, Unison has also been successful in securing alternative work for many of the affected workers. We will do our utmost to keep as many people as possible in NHS employment.”

A trust spokesman said: “Following the conclusion of the consultation and adhering to NHS employment regulations, the trust has reviewed every case individually and has considered all the new supporting information to exhaust every opportunity to retain employment.”