A row over pay arrangements for staff who have to work on this year’s royal wedding is brewing after health workers across the country were told they will not receive any extra money.

Unison has accused a number of NHS trusts of being “mean” for making staff work on 29 April without receiving any extra payment - even though it has been declared a bank holiday.

Prime minister David Cameron said the date would be a bank holiday when Prince William and Kate Middleton announced their wedding date, but the Department of Health is allowing each hospital to decide its own arrangements for time off and pay.

Unison said health staff would normally get time plus 60% and a day in lieu for bank holiday working, while some hospitals are paying extra to staff who will be on duty on 29 April.

But others, including hospitals in Solihull, Birmingham, Lancashire and Norfolk, want to treat it as a normal working day, said Unison.

National officer Mike Jackson said: “It’s only fair to pay nurses and hospital staff a little bit extra for coming in and running essential services on the royal wedding day.

“It’s been declared a public holiday and they will be missing out on celebrations across the country and with friends and family.

“There is not much for staff to celebrate in the NHS at the moment, with the prospect of a two-year pay freeze and job cuts looming large. It is mean-minded and demoralising of trusts to spoil this special day by refusing overtime rates.

“The decision on whether to pay or not should not be left to the whim of individual trusts.”

Unison is meeting NHS Employers on 25 February for talks over royal wedding day payment rates.

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