Jobs to be cut in NHS
HUNDREDS of NHS jobs in the region are to go.
The cuts follow the news that by April 2011, North East Strategic Health Authority (SHA), and the 12 primary care trusts (PCTs) in the region, have to make savings of 27m.
Across the region 516 jobs are to be slashed from the managements of PCTs, with all savings being reinvested in frontline services.
But regional director Glenn Turp said he is concerned because it is not clear how these savings will be made.
He said: "Each of these job losses will be a tragedy for the individual concerned.
"While we welcome the commitment from the Strategic Health Authority that the trusts will reinvest these savings in frontline care, we are concerned that the SHA has not made it explicit as to how this reinvestment will happen.
"We need a clear and transparent process which shows, pound for pound, where these cost savings are going.
"I have written to the SHA, asking it to set out how it intends to monitor trusts to ensure this money is reinvested in frontline care."
Consultations are underway and run until September 15.
A spokesperson for NHS North of Tyne said: "Our requirement is to reduce management costs by around 35 per cent, which means we have to make significant changes to our staffing structures.
"We have produced a proposed structure and over the next month will be seeking the views of our staff about this.
"To help achieve the management costs savings we are offering staff the opportunity of asking for voluntary redundancy.
"We would always hope that we can avoid compulsory redundancies but in this case, given the level of savings to be made this may not be possible.
"We have plans in place to support our staff through this difficult process and we recognise their professionalism and dedication at such a challenging time."
Unison lead officer for health in the North East Trevor Johnston said he was concerned a reduction would lead to frontline staff not being able to function effectively due to lack of administrative and managerial back up.
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Weather for Blyth
Thursday 17 May 2012
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