NORTH West Ambulance Service is planning to save £1 million this year by slashing its payments to staff who are off sick, which will meet opposition by the unions.

A spokesman for the trust said: “Unsocial Hours is an ongoing, national discussion between all ambulance services, NHS employees and the trade unions, about moving forward with Agenda for Change.

“The specific issue is whether staff should continue to receive payment for unsociable hours when off sick.

“Across the wider NHS, nurses for example, do not receive unsociable hours pay when off sick.”

Unions are opposing the changes to the sick, pay arrangements, which have not yet been confirmed by North West Ambulance Service bosses.