EAST Lancashire hospitals are to help pilot a new scheme to put ancillary staff on a new performance-related pay scheme.

Housekeepers, security staff, porters, switchboard operators, caterers, backroom supplies staff and maintenance workers at a number of hospitals are to be offered cash bonuses of a minimum of £800 each if they meet targets at work, under a ground-breaking performance-related pay scheme announced by Health Minister John Hutton yesterday.

The Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley NHS trust, which runs Queen's Park Hospital and Blackburn Royal Infirmary, is one of only two chosen in the north west to take part.

Some 3,200 members of staff across the whole trust will receive individual bonuses on targets which include sickness absence, risk assessments and complaints. Acting chief executive of the trust, John Dell, said: "I am very pleased to hear that this trust is one of only six trusts across the country and two trusts in the north west to be given the opportunity to take part in the second wave of this innovative scheme. "We are now seeing the benefit of being a three-star trust, as only three star trusts were invited to apply.

"The team bonus will recognise the hard work and dedication of all our staff and encourage further improvements in patient care."

But the controversial scheme was criticised by the local health watchdog, the Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Community Health Council.

Chief officer Nigel Robinson said: "I remember when a similar scheme was introduced in my student days and it took the 'c' out of care and replaced it with competitiveness.

"Why can't they just give the staff the £800? They certainly deserve it and work hard enough for it. I feel very strongly about this, because healthcare staff work hard for their pay already."

In the first pilot scheme, all 320 ancillary staff at Frimley Park hospital in Surrey are in line for the team bonuses payments if they meet performance targets like reducing response times to telephone calls, speedier collection of trolleys, further improve cleanliness standards and increase patient satisfaction with hospital food.

Managers at the hospital hope that by improving staff take-home pay they can recruit more workers and encourage them to stay.