Nursing aides: GWU ready to talk

A ray of hope in the nursing aides' dispute appeared this weekend after General Workers' Union officials made themselves available for conditional talks with the government.

The union was adamant, however that it would not call off its directives - which are adversely affecting bedridden patients - before a meeting with the authorities takes place and the union assures itself that the government's intentions are "serious". This still represents a sea change from the union's stand last Friday, when section secretary Louis Marsh said the government had been informed that the section's administration would not be available for meetings until August 27.

Earlier last week, he had told The Times that this was because of travel arrangements.

Yesterday Mr Marsh took a different position. When contacted, he said the union was always available to carry on with talks. If an official was unavailable, there was always another one who could stand in.

When confronted with the fact that this was not what the union had been maintaining last week, Mr Marsh said things were different on Friday because of holiday plans.

However, he added, the government had been informed on the same day that the union was prepared to return to negotiations.

The government has always held that it will only meet the union if the latter calls off its directives.

Such a meeting was held on Friday. However, the directives to nursing aides, health assistants and care workers were reinstated when it was inconclusive.

These staff are only doing food-related work at hospitals and homes for the elderly, leaving nurses to bear much of the burden of washing and changing patients as well as helping them get out of bed.