Fife healthcare bosses have remained steadfast in their decision to deny thousands of staff a day off to commemorate the 75th anniversary of VE Day.
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader and North East Fife MSP Willie Rennie called on NHS Fife to rethink its plan to retain the traditional May bank holiday Monday for its 8,500-strong workforce, even though many public bodies have switched it to Friday May 8 as per a UK government recommendation.
May 8 will signal the start of three days of national celebrations to mark 75 years since the Allied victory over Nazi Germany, and the Scottish Government released a circular to local authorities and health boards across Scotland suggesting they could move the May bank holiday from May 4 accordingly.
However, NHS Fife will not be bowed – and denied any suggestion the refusal to change dates demonstrated a lack of respect.
Mr Rennie has written to health secretary Jeane Freeman bringing the matter to her attention and has also brought a parliamentary motion on the matter calling for decision to be looked at again.
“This is an ill-advised decision by NHS Fife,” he said.
“It was not much to ask for the bank holiday in May to be moved just a few days to the exact day 75 years ago when victory in Europe was achieved over Nazi Germany.
“It is to be a national coming together to remember those who sacrificed their tomorrows for our todays.
“Yet the NHS in Fife will miss out on that national opportunity to remember.
“I have already asked NHS Fife to reconsider but they have declined. I want them to reflect on that before it is too late.”
Fife Council has moved the bank holiday to the Monday, while NHS Fife has pointed out it is not alone in its course of action – with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and NHS Dumfries and Galloway in a similar position.
Linda Douglas, NHS Fife director of workforce, explained: “NHS Fife’s staff work tirelessly to provide quality healthcare services for the people of Fife, 24 hours a day and 365 days a year.
“Indeed, our clinical staff are very often required to work public holidays to ensure we continue to provide round-the-clock care for the population when they need it most.
“Importantly, NHS Fife is not the only board who are to maintain the traditional May Day holiday, with the board being one of many to do so.
“This decision was taken in collaboration with our staff representatives back in September 2019.
“NHS Fife’s has close and well-established links with the local armed forces community, and takes great pride in the fact that it is Defence Employer Recognition certified – meaning our values are aligned with the Armed Forces Covenant and that our work to both support defence efforts and inspire other to do the same has been formally recognised by the Ministry of Defence.”
The Scottish Government has said it agreed with the proposal from the UK government to move the official date of the early May public holiday to coincide with the VE Day anniversary, but stressed that decisions on which days to designate public holidays remained a local matter for each NHS Scotland board as employers.
