Trade Union response to Trust announcement on job cuts

Date published: 25/07/2006

Joint Trade Unions representing staff from across all sites at Pennine Acute NHS Trust remain firmly opposed to any job losses, and any service cuts and are actively seeking early consultation meetings with the Trust management.

Pennine Acute NHS Hospitals Trust announced the results of it’s exercise to address the funding crisis, brought about by changes in the way that central government is to fund hospitals. The Trust envisage cutting 250 inpatient beds, together with the reorganisation/relocation of about 600 jobs. Compulsory redundancies are expected to the tune of 100 jobs.

250 beds equate to nine wards across the Trust.

A Union spokesman said: "These cuts will have a detrimental impact on the health care that the local community needs. It should be noted that these cuts are purely financially driven, rather than part of a considered health agenda.

"We call upon members of the public to voice their concerns to local MP’s."