"IF NOT for theses nurses I would not be able to cope physically or mentally."
These are the words of Jessie Orrey, 92, who is able to live independently thanks to the help from community nurses working for the Care Plus Group.
Jessie has voiced her concerns after hearing that 800 members of staff at the organisation are currently in consultation over changes to their terms and conditions, which are as a result of funding cuts.
The changes include cuts to unsocial hours, sick pay, maternity, paternity, and overtime.
Jessie is worried as a patient that if nurses decide to leave because of this – like Sarah O'Brien, who we featured yesterday – then she could be left without the care she desperately needs.
Jessie, of Legsby Avenue, Grimsby, said: "Community nurses come to my house twice a week to dress my legs.
"They put new bandages on for me because I cannot reach down far enough to do it myself.
"The skin on my legs has deteriorated as I have got older so I need extra care to help them."
When she heard about the changes to staff contracts, Jessie could only describe them as "disgusting".
"These nurses are angels and I am so grateful to be able to have them", she said.
"I would hate for anything to jeopardise that."
Bosses at the Care Plus Group want to reassure patients that their care will not be affected through these changes.
They have also denied any intention to impose redundancies or cut services.
Lance Gardner, chief executive of the group, said: "We deliver a quality service – the best in the area – and I don't want to compromise that.
"I do not understand how providing the same number of services and the same number of staff will impact on care. We would not let that happen.
"We continue to work hard to safeguard jobs in Care Plus Group and the services to our service users."
Readers have taken to www.thisisgrimsby.co.uk to voice their opinions over changes to Care Plus staff's contracts.
Crispydancer posted: "I don't know a single person in the private sector on a salary that gets paid extra for working 'unsociable' hours. It's just part of the job.
"I work all sorts of peculiar hours – I've worked 26 consecutive days before, day and night – without any extra pay but I don't care because I take pride in my work and think my moderate sub £25k salary is quite reasonable."
Chrisjohnson said: "The worst thing is that they intend to drop our basic salary by several thousand pounds a year in the next two to three years when they move us onto a fixed salary, rather than salary range, so my £14 an hour will become around £11-12 I envisage ... and that can't be right!!!"
DerAngriff posted: "The problem here is, it's either sign or lose your job."
