More than 50 long-standing NHS staff who lost their jobs because they couldn’t make an 80-mile round trip to work, are to be handed a redundancy payment.

Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust closed its Calderstones Hospital site in Mitton Road, Whalley, at the end of March.

Staff at the time revealed they would have to relocate to Mersey Care’s Maghull Health Park in Liverpool, more than 40 miles away, following the closure.

Other workers spoke of ‘uncertainty’ over their roles.

Their plight was taken up by the GMB Union who 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.

Unison also said NHS workers have been ‘forced into financial peril’ after being made redundant without any compensation.

Mersey Care NHS said 118 staff had been contacted to confirm their redundancy payments.

However, now the GMB has said those workers who have lost their jobs will receive redundancy payments

GMB regional organiser, Michael Clark, said: “Loyal workers with decades of service are now being treated with the dignity they deserve after years of service to Mersey Care and the NHS.

“Mersey Care’s insistence on average an 80-mile commute per shift was unreasonable.

“After continuing pressure from the GMB, the trust relented a fantastic result for this union and its members.”

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

Mersey Care NHS said the decision to cease commissioning forensic learning disability services from Whalley was made by NHS England in 2017.

A Mersey Care NHS Foundation 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.

“Unfortunately, and despite best efforts to retain employment currently 118 members of staff, previously based at our former Whalley site, have now been contacted to confirm their redundancy payments.

"This follows the decision made by NHS England to transfer learning disability services from Whalley to their new home in Aspen Wood which is based at Maghull Health Park. 

“Throughout this ongoing transition to Aspen Wood, Mersey Care has supported all staff to continue their careers in 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.”