More than 50 long-standing NHS staff have lost their jobs because they can’t make an 80-mile round trip to work, said a trade union.

The former Calderstones Hospital in Mitton Road is set to close this weekend, and the GMB union has now say 50 staff have been sacked as they don't want to have an 80-mile round commute to Merseyside daily.

Calderstones was a learning disabilities and mental health facility, which has been managed latterly by Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust.

Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust said in a statement they 'had supported all staff to continue their careers within the NHS' and 'will continue working with our workforce, staff side and partners to support staff and offer them suitable alternative roles where possible'.

Staff revealed they had been notified they would have to relocate to Mersey Care's Maghull Health Park in Liverpool, more than 40 miles away, following the closure.

Just last week staff were forced to speak out revealing redundancy options had still not being disclosed.

Others said they had cared for some ‘exceptionally complex patients’ and were being ‘treated appallingly’.

A staff member had said: “The new Maghull service is a one-hour commute for Lancashire-based staff on top of a 12 hour shift. Staff are ‘between rock and a hard place’. 

“Some of the staff have worked at Calderstones for years, cared for some exceptionally complex patients in that time, and are being treated appallingly in my view.”

The GMB Union said members ‘had been offered unsuitable roles in a local trust but can’t accept them due to family and caring responsibilities’.

Those who wouldn’t, or couldn’t make the trip will now be sacked, without redundancy pay, on Easter Sunday, it claimed.

GMB organiser, Michael Clark said: “These loyal workers will be sacked on Easter Sunday, leaving them with dashed hopes and uncertain futures instead of chocolate eggs and roast dinners.

"Mersey Care's insistence on average an 80-mile commute per shift is unreasonable.

“By disregarding members with family and caring responsibilities and offering unsuitable alternatives, the trust is failing its duty of care to them.

“These employees deserve better treatment and if required, the redundancy they are rightfully entitled to." 

Bosses at Mersey Care took over the former Calderstones NHS Partnership in 2016, which then employed 800 people across Lancashire and Greater Manchester.

A Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust spokesman said: “We are aware of concerns among some of our workforce due to changes in working arrangements alongside the transfer of care from our Whalley site to Aspen Wood, based at Maghull Health Park.

"This follows NHS England’s decision to cease commissioning forensic learning disability services from Whalley, which will close on 31 March and the buildings transferred to Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust.

“Throughout this ongoing process, Mersey Care has supported all staff to continue their careers within the NHS by offering opportunities within our Trust and other local NHS organisations to protect their employment.

“The consultation process is ongoing until 1 April but we will continue working with our workforce, staff side and partners to support staff and offer them suitable alternative roles where possible, subject to NHS employment regulations.”