LANARKSHIRE health workers need emergency payments after their Christmas wages were delayed, Unison has demanded.

Scotland’s largest health union said that NHS Lanarkshire’s community health staff, as well as acute workers Monklands, Hairmyres and Wishaw hospitals, failed to receive their salaries on Wednesday.

Unison Lanarkshire Health branch secretary Katrina Murray said: “Workers have budgeted on the basis they would get their monthly wage today.

“Now many haven’t got money to put food on the table or keep their homes warm. 

“NHS staff have had an extremely difficult few years and have put themselves out consistently to keep health services going yet they are left without pay days before Christmas.

“We know that people are now pulling out of agreed overtime shifts at the weekend because this is the only opportunity that they have to do their shopping. 

“This delay is going to have an impact on services which are already stretched.

“We are calling on the board to get money into their accounts urgently.”

NHS Lanarkshire was contacted for comment.