NHS office staff facing job losses
Around 78 office staff posts at NHS Northamptonshire could be culled as part of proposed £3.5 million cuts in the NHS.
A recent health White Paper has called for a 45 per cent reduction in NHS management costs over four years. As part of this, NHS Northamptonshire will disappear as an organisation by April 2013 and it is attempting to reduce its management costs for this financial year by 3.5 million. It represents the first stage of a wider management cost reduction process which will be repeated again in coming months.
NHS Northamptonshire has insisted all savings created this year as a result of these cuts will be ploughed back into frontline health services.
John Parkes, chief executive at NHS Northamptonshire, said the organisation launched a staff consultation yesterday on the proposals.
"This is a difficult time for colleagues, but I have assured everyone that the process will be fair and transparent and that everyone will have an opportunity to respond to our proposals over the coming 30 days," he said.
"We currently have a workforce of 372 funded posts and our consultation document recommends a reduction of 78 posts, 22 of which are currently vacant.
"We are also working closely with local union representatives and our staff forum and ensuring that they are part of this process.
"We will support staff as much as possible throughout this process and work with local NHS employers to ensure that where possible alternative employment can be found."
However Unison have voiced concerns that the cuts could affect frontline services.
Unison rep Gerry Looker said: "I know that 78 posts are set to go and that this will make about 30 people redundant. I also understand that they are saying this won't affect frontline services, but my point would be there is a myth that frontline services are completely separate from other services in the NHS, because administration work is based around supporting the frontline.
"Efficiency saving which will invariably lead to job losses and redundancy will impact on services for the people in Northamptonshire."
It represents the first stage of a wider management cost reduction process which will be repeated again in coming months.
NHS Northamptonshire has insisted all savings created this year as a result of these cuts will be ploughed back into frontline health services.
John Parkes, chief executive at NHS Northamptonshire, said the organisation launched a staff consultation yesterday on the proposals.
"This is a difficult time for colleagues, but I have assured everyone that the process will be fair and transparent and that everyone will have an opportunity to respond to our proposals over the coming 30 days," he said.
"We currently have a workforce of 372 funded posts and our consultation document recommends a reduction of 78 posts, 22 of which are currently vacant.
"We are also working closely with local union representatives and our staff forum and ensuring that they are part of this process.
"We will support staff as much as possible throughout this process and work with local NHS employers to ensure that where possible alternative employment can be found."
However Unison have voiced concerns that the cuts could effect frontline services.
Unison rep Gerry Looker said: "I know that 78 posts are set to go and that this will make about 30 people redundant. I also understand that they are saying this won't effect frontline services, but my point would be there is a myth that frontline services are completely separate from other services in the NHS, because administration work is based around supporting the frontline.
"Efficiency saving which will invariably lead to job losses and redundancy will impact on services for the people in Northamptonshire."
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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