STAFF at Calderstones Hospital's mental health unit in Whalley have been selected as the only health workers in the North West to pilot a staff bonus scheme.

The team from the West Drive site will be among ten NHS organisations to pilot the scheme nationally, which could see staff rewarded with extra cash for good work.

Fifty three organisations nationally bid for the chance to test out the scheme.

The 48-strong team, which runs a secure residential ward for people with learning difficulties, were chosen because of their specialist work, so that the pilot had a range of different organisations taking part.

Staff now have several options to choose from to put the scheme into practice, including rewarding each member of staff for the whole team meeting its objectives, and rewarding the ward, staff and patients for meeting targets.

They will have between three and four per cent of the team's total basic pay to use for the bonuses.

Graham Jowett, deputy chief executive at Calderstones, said: "We are delighted. The scheme will look at overall team approach, improving and reviewing individual members of the team and performance.

"The staff have not decided how they are going to work the scheme yet, but it will go live by the middle of December.

"I think the staff have been very positive and looking forward to participating."

Announcing the decision, Health Minister John Hutton said: "The NHS is characterised by huge variations in performance.

"These proposals for team bonuses were drawn up by front line staff and managers in order to speed up improvements to patient services."

Pete Hawkins, UNISON branch secretary for Calderstones, said the union welcomed the news of the pilot, but hoped that it would eventually cover all staff, and not just one department.