NHS workers have been 'forced into financial peril' after being made redundant without any compensation, a public sector union said.

Earlier this week, Liverpool-based Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust closed its Whalley site, formerly known as Calderstones Hospital.

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.

Workers at the site were told they’d be offered alternative employment at the trust’s Aspen site in Liverpool or another trust in Lancashire.

Mersey Care said it would 'continue to follow the legal framework and work alongside the workforce, staff side and partners and 'support staff and offer them suitable alternative roles where possible, subject to NHS employment regulations.'

Unison said many of the affected workers could not be expected to make the 80-mile round trip to Liverpool, and some of the more local roles were 'unworkable' for the staff to whom they’ve been offered.

At least 40 members of staff were not offered a role with a neighbouring trust, said the union.

Michelle Smith, a former medical secretary at the Whalley site, said:  “Since being served our 12- week notice I have been feeling anxious, barely sleeping and waking up worrying about my future.

“I was laid-off on Sunday with no guarantee of alternative employment or redundancy pay. I’ve worked for 32 years in the NHS and I can't believe how I’ve been treated by the trust.

“Despite many staff saying they can’t travel to the Liverpool site, the trust has continued to send us alternative jobs that are based in the Merseyside area. It’s outrageous.

“Like many of my colleagues, I’m now wondering how I’ll make ends meet and pay my bills at the end of this month.”

Unison North West regional organiser, Dale Ollier said: “It’s a scandal that so many dedicated staff have been left without any firm prospect of employment or redundancy payout.

“Unison has directed staff to the union’s There For You charity for financial support.

“Mersey Care must do the right thing and pay these staff the redundancy pay they’re owed.”

The GMB union had also said 50 staff had been sacked as they didn't want to have an 80-mile round commute to Merseyside daily.

More than 50 NHS workers sacked ‘over inability to relocate’ says union

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

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.

“The decision to cease commissioning forensic learning disability services from Whalley was made by NHS England in 2017. As a result, the Whalley site transferred to Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust on 1 April 2024.

“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, to retain talent and minimise the loss of valuable skills and expertise from the NHS.

“We have worked hard with partner NHS organisations to reach an agreement so all registered nurses and health care assistants would be offered local opportunities, including for some to remain at the Whalley site.

“Mersey Care will continue to follow the legal framework and work alongside our workforce, staff side and partners to support staff and offer them suitable alternative roles where possible, subject to NHS employment regulations.”