Peter Stewart

Well, there's a two-day strike by healthcare assistants at East Surrey Hospital this past week. More than 350 staff at Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust were in a dispute over back pay. So let me tell you what the story is and you can decide whose side you're on on this. And of course... That's a bit tribalistic, isn't it, whose side you're on, because usually there's a bit of a grey area.

Well, there's a two-day strike by healthcare assistants at East Surrey Hospital this past week. More than 350 staff at Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust were in a dispute over back pay. So let me tell you what the story is and you can decide whose side you're on on this. And of course... That's a bit tribalistic, isn't it, whose side you're on, because usually there's a bit of a grey area.

But members of the Unison Union at East Surrey Hospital in Redhill, plus also Crawley Hospital and Horsham Hospital, say they've been carrying out work beyond their pay grade for years. A spokesperson for the trust says it was disappointed a pay offer had not been accepted and... This action is taking place while the grievance process is ongoing. So what's behind it all?

But members of the Unison Union at East Surrey Hospital in Redhill, plus also Crawley Hospital and Horsham Hospital, say they've been carrying out work beyond their pay grade for years. A spokesperson for the trust says it was disappointed a pay offer had not been accepted and... This action is taking place while the grievance process is ongoing. So what's behind it all?

Well, striking staff are on band two of their pay scale, which means they should only do personal care tasks such as washing and bathing or feeding patients. But staff say they've been carrying out clinical duties, which is above their pay grade and on a higher banding. Things like taking blood samples and things like that.

Well, striking staff are on band two of their pay scale, which means they should only do personal care tasks such as washing and bathing or feeding patients. But staff say they've been carrying out clinical duties, which is above their pay grade and on a higher banding. Things like taking blood samples and things like that.

So the union says the trust had agreed to reband those health care assistants. But what they're not agreeing to, apparently, according to the union, is to give them what they owe them and back pay them for the work they've already done in the past. And they said that amounts to around about £40 a week. Additional strike dates have been set for the 25th and 26th of July.

So the union says the trust had agreed to reband those health care assistants. But what they're not agreeing to, apparently, according to the union, is to give them what they owe them and back pay them for the work they've already done in the past. And they said that amounts to around about £40 a week. Additional strike dates have been set for the 25th and 26th of July.

The union says it's still open to talks next week to avoid further action. And the trust says they're working closely with those members of staff and the union to find a resolution as soon as possible. More on that story on the BBC website. A driving instructor says he's on a one-man crusade to fix the roads around Redhill Aerodrome Driving Centre. Do you know that neck of the woods?

The union says it's still open to talks next week to avoid further action. And the trust says they're working closely with those members of staff and the union to find a resolution as soon as possible. More on that story on the BBC website. A driving instructor says he's on a one-man crusade to fix the roads around Redhill Aerodrome Driving Centre. Do you know that neck of the woods?

There's some twisty-turny roads around there, aren't there? And I'm just trying to think of what more. Are there road signs missing? Well, I'll tell you the story. The guy is Martin Pitchley. He told Surrey Live that he was shocked at the road conditions in Redhill. He talks about unreadable road markings, overgrown hedges, blocking speed signs and poor road conditions.

There's some twisty-turny roads around there, aren't there? And I'm just trying to think of what more. Are there road signs missing? Well, I'll tell you the story. The guy is Martin Pitchley. He told Surrey Live that he was shocked at the road conditions in Redhill. He talks about unreadable road markings, overgrown hedges, blocking speed signs and poor road conditions.

Surrey County Council's Highways Maintenance Officer said the vegetation covering road signs are actually going to be removed as part of a rural cutback in Earlswood and Reigate South on July the 19th, so later on this coming week. Fixing chevrons and replacing speed signs have also been requested. But Martin Pitchley says,

Surrey County Council's Highways Maintenance Officer said the vegetation covering road signs are actually going to be removed as part of a rural cutback in Earlswood and Reigate South on July the 19th, so later on this coming week. Fixing chevrons and replacing speed signs have also been requested. But Martin Pitchley says,

Students who are just about to take their driving test come out of the centre. They don't know what the speed limit is on that road. He says a speed sign has been knocked over and lying down in a hedge for over six months. And outside the driving test centre, it is in fact, OK, do you know what the speed limit is there? You can picture the stretch of road I'm talking about. The speed limit is 30.

Students who are just about to take their driving test come out of the centre. They don't know what the speed limit is on that road. He says a speed sign has been knocked over and lying down in a hedge for over six months. And outside the driving test centre, it is in fact, OK, do you know what the speed limit is there? You can picture the stretch of road I'm talking about. The speed limit is 30.

40 miles an hour. That sounds pretty high to me. Martin says there's no signage until a good few hundred yards up the road, and it's an unsafe speed for that road. It's got so many sharp bends and big lorries. It has got a lot of sharp bends, hasn't it? He says it's not really fair for the students going up to the test centre and taking their test with all of these problems on the road.

40 miles an hour. That sounds pretty high to me. Martin says there's no signage until a good few hundred yards up the road, and it's an unsafe speed for that road. It's got so many sharp bends and big lorries. It has got a lot of sharp bends, hasn't it? He says it's not really fair for the students going up to the test centre and taking their test with all of these problems on the road.

Well, Martin's been speaking to the local democracy reporting service, and you'll be able to read more about this on getsurrey.co.uk. He says the council's had enough time to fix the issues and wants to see change. He says, I just want this issue to be resolved so students can go up to their driving test, get a fair test, and members of the public aren't going to get hit by a speeding car.

Well, Martin's been speaking to the local democracy reporting service, and you'll be able to read more about this on getsurrey.co.uk. He says the council's had enough time to fix the issues and wants to see change. He says, I just want this issue to be resolved so students can go up to their driving test, get a fair test, and members of the public aren't going to get hit by a speeding car.