Petition · past parliament

Pay NHS staff for breaks

Rejected 15 signatures

What the petition asks

NHS staff working 12.5 hour shifts are currently not paid for breaks. This means that we end up working an extra shift per month to make up full time hours. This means that over the month we work 162.5 hours, but are only paid for 149.5 hours. Not to mention we often do not get our breaks.
To reduce fatigue and burn-out amongst NHS staff
To reduce staff sickness and improve health and wellbeing
To improve patient safety
To improve staff retention
To improve staff recruitment

Why it was rejected

It asked for something that is not the responsibility of the UK Government or Parliament.

Pay and conditions for NHS staff are a matter for them, the NHS, and the relevant trade union(s), not the UK Government.

You could have petition calling for a ban on unpaid breaks, if that is something you'd like to see happen.

Timeline

23 Nov 2021 Petition opened for signatures
29 Nov 2021 Rejected by the Petitions Committee

Key facts

Signatures 15
Status Rejected
Rejected 29 Nov 2021

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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.