Health chiefs in Bradford are facing pressure to fork out big bonuses for staff forced to work over the Millennium holidays.

Ministers have refused to come up with extra money to finance deals they say must be made locally.

Junior doctors have already threatened industrial action if they fail to get a much-improved pay offer for working over the holidays while Unison has submitted a claim for flat-rate bonuses of £500 for overnight shifts on December 31 and £250 for the first morning shift on January 1.

If the medics succeed, they will be among hundreds of workers across the region who will land a small fortune for working over the Millennium.

Unions representing hundreds of staff across the NHS in the Bradford district are warning deals will have to win support from members.

Extra staff will be needed to work over the Millennium period to deal with any breakdowns caused by the Millennium bug and an expected upsurge in admissions caused by celebrations. Brian Wheeler, regional officer for Unison who deals with hospitals in Bradford and Airedale, said some hospitals had already reached agreements and members would expect comparable or better settlements.

"We will be looking at other agreements in other services as benchmarks before getting into discussions with trusts," he said.

A spokesman for Bradford Hospitals NHS Trust said it was committed to maintaining services throughout the Millennium period and plans were being drawn up.

"It is important for us to ensure that all our staff who work over this period are treated fairly and equitably," he said.

Janet Crouch, deputy chief executive at Airedale NHS Trust, said staffing levels would be worked out shortly and it was likely more staff would be needed than usual. But no extra money had been received to pay for bonuses.

British Telecom said staff were being asked to work three days between December 25 and January 3. Someone earning £15,000 a year working normal seven-and-a-half hour shifts on December 26, 27 and 31 would pick up a total of £1,101.

Someone earning £20,000 a year working on the same days would earn £1,242, including £614 for December 31.

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