UNISON says the proposals from Dorset HealthCare University, Dorset County Hospital, and University Hospitals Dorset (UHD) will see mainly low-paid support staff including porters and cleaners moved to a wholly owned subsidiary, also known as a “subco.”

The union claims the move goes against government pledges to bring employees back into the NHS rather than outsource them.

Ahead of the general election, Labour promised “the biggest wave of insourcing of public services in a generation.”

Affected staff currently work across Dorset County, Royal Bournemouth, Poole, Christchurch, and Weymouth hospitals.  An overwhelming majority (98 per cent) of health workers, say they want to vote for strike action in a row over this move.

UNISON says workers fear the change could lead to worse pay and conditions in the future, and fewer career opportunities compared to NHS employees.

Kerry Baigent, UNISON Southwest regional secretary, said: “The NHS depends on these workers to keep hospitals clean, safe and running efficiently. Many are already low-paid and outsourcing will leave them with a raw deal.

 “Porters, cleaners and other staff want to be part of the NHS, working as one team to give patients the best care possible.

 “But this move casts valuable employees out to an arms-length company with no guarantee over pay and conditions.

 “The NHS needs to be rebuilt, not dismantled and parcelled off to the lowest bidder. The government needs to honour its pledge to insource public services.

 “This plan by these trusts goes against Labour’s manifesto promise. It makes support staff feel they’re not valued – and they won’t be treated in this way.”

 UHD confirms the plan would not amount to privatisation, stressing the new company would be fully owned by the three NHS trusts. UHS says the company would not be “external”.

A UHD spokesperson said: “Any new company would remain 100 per cent owned by the trusts, and colleagues would keep their NHS terms, conditions, and pensions. It would not be an external company.

“Staff in estates, clinical engineering, facilities, sterile services, and procurement are central to safe, effective patient care. This plan aims to protect services across Dorset and maintain long-term job security.”

UNISON says its members have given a clear mandate to ballot for strike action and warns industrial action will happen.