To ask the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety for his assessment of the bank system within the Northern Health and Social Care Trust where nurses are required to sign up to work extra hours; and to detail (i) when this system was introduced (ii) why additional hours are classed as secondary employment with a separate payslip; and (iii) whether nurses that work extra hours through the bank are paid at an overtime rate.

Nursing Bank hours in the Northern Health and Social Care Trust (NHSCT), as in all Health and Social Care Trusts, are available for nurses who wish to earn additional payment over their contracted hours or who wish to avail of a fully flexible work pattern. There is no requirement or expectation on any individual to apply for bank hours. Bank nursing contributes importantly to maintaining service provision to patients and clients.

The bank system in NHSCT became operational on 1st May 2012.

A separate payslip is issued as bank hours are not overtime in the existing post but additional hours which can be carried out in any clinical area within the Trust.

Nurses and Midwives working extra hours through the Bank are not paid an overtime rate but are paid bank rates in line with arrangements under Agenda for Change.