A union has slammed the East End’s NHS trust for refusing to pay staff extra for working the Royal Wedding.

Unite named Barts and the London NHS trust, which runs the Royal London, the London Chest and Barts hospital, as one of 115 trusts across England not treating the public holiday as a standard bank holiday.

Staff would normally be given the choice of extra pay or a day in lieu for working a bank holiday but on April 29 they will just be offered a day in lieu.

Unite national officer for health, Rachael Maskell, said: “NHS staff will be saving lives, looking after the sick and prepared for emergencies while most of Britain will be taking a well earned break or celebrating the Royal Wedding.

“The government has given the country an extra bank holiday but NHS trust chief executives on six figure salaries are refusing to recognise the spirit of the occasion.”

In 2004, the government passed a policy which entitled staff working a bank holiday to extra pay, ranging from double time to time plus 60 per cent.

Barts and The London said it is recognising April 29 as a public holiday as its staff will earn a day off in lieu at a time of their choosing.

A spokesperson said: “At a time when all parts of the organisation are having to make considerable cost reductions as part of the wider NHS efficiency savings, the trust has to prioritise its resources to deliver the best care possible to patients.”