Trade union officials and Highland health chiefs are poised to hold crunch talks to try to avert a looming strike at Raigmore Hospital.
Porters at the region’s biggest hospital are being balloted for industrial action amid anger at shift changes which are due to be implemented on August 1.
A consultative ballot has already shown overwhelming support for a walkout, with staff claiming patient safety could be put at risk by the shake-up.
NHS Highland chiefs and representatives of the GMB union will now hold showdown talks on Monday to try to find a resolution.
Regional GMB organiser Liz Gordon said last night that the strike ballot would proceed next week unless the health board agreed to postpone the changes and meet with dispute resolution group Acas.
“We have a meeting with management on Monday, but our ballot continues,” she said.
“We’ve asked them to review the implementation date and sit down with Acas. If they do that, we will stop the ballot.
“I’m forever optimistic. It shouldn’t be beyond our wit to sit down and find an agreement, otherwise it will cause unnecessary disruption.
“It’s up to them. We’ve put alternative shift patterns on the table, we’ve sat and had meetings with them – we really have tried.
“We seem to be trying more than the NHS. Let’s see what they say on Monday.”
Porters act as a “bridge” between hospital departments, performing a number of tasks, including moving medical equipment, removing the bodies of deceased patients from wards, dealing with waste, as well as delivering meals.
The dispute centres on a new rota, due to be trialled by NHS Highland from August 1, which involves porters working to a 16-week pattern of shifts, with seven different start times.
They currently work an 11-week rota, with four start times.
One of the main issues raised by staff is that the new system will involve porters working seven days on for eight weeks.
They say that the longer spells are likely to result in more sick leave because of the physically demanding nature of the job, leaving a thinly-stretched service at greater risk.
NHS Highland insists the plans will enhance patient care.
