Pennine Care UNISON branch have been working with the Pennine Care NHS Trust to gain their support for the Dying to Work Charter which protects employees who are terminally ill. 

The Dying to Work campaign, promoted by the Trades Union Congress (TUC), is calling for terminal illness to be made a ‘protected characteristic’, which would mean that an employee could not be dismissed as a result of their illness.

Whilst the Equality Act 2010 does offer some protection for terminally ill employees, it still allows employers to dismiss a terminally ill staff member if they fail a capability assessment with ‘reasonable adjustments’. 

Lynn Collins, North West TUC Regional Secretary, attended the official signing ceremony with local reps from the staff side unions and senior Trust managers.   

The Charter was signed by Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust last year and the Charter can be downloaded here.