A trust has sent memos to domestic staff and porters about the 'cost to the department' of taking as little as one day's sick leave, leading to accusations that it is victimising some of its lowest paid staff.

All property and support services staff working at St James' Hospital in Leeds received a memo with this month's pay slip. Staff who had taken one or more days' absence were told that their leave had 'been noted'.

The memo continues: 'It is important that all of us in the department are aware of how our attendance at work affects the budget we have to provide the service.'

Those who had taken no sickness leave were thanked for their 'commendable record' and urged to 'continue to achieve a similar record'.

A member of staff who did not wish to be named said: 'I came across one of the domestic staff crying; she had got one of these letters even though she had only taken one day off in 10 years.

'You can imagine what this does for morale. The letter didn't go to any other staff group - you didn't see doctors or nurses getting them. It really does seem like bullying tactics.'

Another member of staff reportedly received the memo days after taking one day's compassionate leave following the death of her brother.

Sandy Fraser, Unison head of health for Yorkshire and Humberside, said:

'On the face of it, it seems an excessive response to a small amount of absence.' He added that the union would 'look into the matter and raise it with the trust'.

In a statement, Leeds Teaching Hospitals trust said: 'The aim of the letter was certainly not to victimise anyone. Absence monitoring takes place across all staff groups, but it is at the discretion of local managers how the matter is tackled.

'This particular initiative has been undertaken in line with both trust and NHS guidelines.'

The trust is trying to meet regional targets to reduce sickness absence to 4.5 per cent from about 9 per cent.