NHS workers' fingerprints will show when they are clocking on and off, raising concerns over trust among staff.

Computerised or e-rostering is being piloted on wards at the City Hospital and Queen's Medical Centre from August.

And from December, workers will be asked to press their fingers against a biometric scanner to show they have started and finished shifts.

Bosses claim the scheme – which will involve all staff records and rotas being stored on an electronic database – will save millions of pounds, with paperwork rostering eliminated and time freed up for other work. But some staff are worried about the security of the data. They have been assured the prints will not be stored and the data converted into a safe binary code.

Peter Wiklo, the trust's project manager for e-rostering, said the plans would save time planning rotas by hand. He said: "With the number of surgeries we have across both sites, it is important staff know they can proceed with theatres and don't have to cancel appointments.

"There will be huge benefits for staff. The roster system probably hasn't changed since 1948."

Bosses say e-rostering will ensure staff get overtime pay promptly and that gaps in the workforce are filled quickly.

Mr Wiklo said: "We are keen to make sure data security is in place and that information is secure. We will make sure it is used for the right purposes."

Rachel Barker, a ward sister at the QMC's children's hospital, said: "It will save me a lot of time. I will be able to spend more time with patients."

But Unison union representative Martin Benn said"There is a question of looking at clocking in and out and whether it will be used to monitor lateness and attendance.It implies to me that the trust doesn't trust staff."

robert.parsons@nottinghameveningpost.co.uk