As part of EMAS’s wider rostering review, the Trust proposed moving staff on 12-hour shifts from a 30-minute to a 45-minute meal break. While this was presented as a move towards consistency and wellbeing, GMB believed it was essential that members themselves had the final say.

Following the consultation, GMB (alongside UNISON) ran a survey of members working in Lincolnshire. The result was clear and decisive: almost 93% of responding GMB members voted against changing from a 30-minute to a 45-minute meal break.

On the back of this strong message to the trust from our members, EMAS has confirmed that the proposed change will not go ahead. The existing 30-minute meal break will be retained for all Lincolnshire A&E staff.

As a consequence of this decision, rotas that had already been developed on the basis of a 45-minute break will now need to be reworked to reflect the 30-minute break and rechecked against rostering principles. This means the planned implementation of new rotas in Lincolnshire at the beginning of April 2026 will be delayed.

While the Trust has acknowledged the time and effort staff put into the original rota development, GMB is clear that member choice must come first. This outcome demonstrates the importance of collective voice and active engagement when members speak, employers must listen.

GMB will continue to work with members and EMAS to ensure any future rota changes are safe, workable, and genuinely supported by the workforce. We advise our wider membership to keep an eye out for further email and text messages about the rota review over the next few days