SHAMELESS hospital bosses in Northampton locked out vital staff responsible for analysing blood samples for a fifth time yesterday.

The 78 biomedical scientists at Northampton General Hospital are in dispute over new contracts which will leave them worse off with changes to their terms and conditions, including pay cuts of up to £6,000 a year, and introduction of more night shifts.

Their union Unite accused managers of “playing Russian Roulette” with patient safety as they struggle to carry out the work themselves.