NURSES working at Preston's hospitals have rejected a Millennium pay offer from health bosses for staff working at the turn of the century.

Under the plans unveiled by Preston Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, grade E nurses would receive £207 for a nine-and-a-half hour shift, roughly £80 more than the normal bank holiday rate. Trust bosses say the additional pay reflects the extra stress which may be endured by staff working on December 31. But union bosses say the offer is too low.

A Unison spokesman said: "This is not on and it falls short of what we were expecting.

"There should be proper compensation for staff who are asked to work, or else they should be allowed to stay at home."

Medical staff working or on call will receive the extra cash. Staff will soon find out if they are needed for the night.

One nurse, who asked not be named, said she felt the cost of just getting to work wouldn't be covered by the extra earnings.

She said: "We appreciate the hospitals need to be functioning every day, at all time, but the bosses are taking advantage.

"Our costs are going to rise. Transport costs will rocket and if we need childcare facilities, we will be out of pocket for working what should be a night of celebration."

Trust development officer Tony Curtis said: "We realise staff will be under more pressure and in recognition of that, we have decided to offer our staff a premium payment for the Millennium period."

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