UNION members dressed up as skeletons and vampires picketed Poole Hospital for their latest protest against plans to set NHS pay and conditions regionally.

With the next trust board meeting taking place on Halloween, Unison says its demo was to “highlight the monstrosities” ahead for staff, patients and the economy if the South West Pay Consortium cuts pay and conditions for NHS staff.

The consortium of health trusts is chaired by Poole Hospital chief executive Chris Bown.

Georgina Cawley, Unison’s area organiser for Dorset, said the unions did not want to take up the consortium’s offer for them to take part in talks.

“We’re not engaging. We’re standing our ground and not accepting any regional pay. There have to be national terms and conditions,” she said.

She added that the union was collecting information about how many extra unpaid hours are put in by NHS workers.

“One of the things we understand the consortium is looking at is making people work an extra hour a week for nothing. “It’s been three years since the last pay rise and there are people doing the work of two or three others.

“If they put any more work on them, they will break.”

Each of the 20 members of the consortium, including the Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals, Poole Hospital and Dorset HealthCare Trust, has contributed £10,000 towards setting it up.

One notable absentee is South Western Ambulance Service, which covers Dorset.

A spokesman explained: “The trust has already established a robust and positive engagement mechanism with staff and unions on future employment and financial pressures.”