Hospital may cut up to 750 jobs

The massive cuts equate to 20 per cent of the hospital’s workforce in danger of losing their jobs.

Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust said it needed a ‘smaller hospital, with substantially fewer beds’ and a smaller workforce to save the £50 million it needs to by 2015.

The trust’s chief executive Brian James said the trust needed to identify ways to continue to improve services for patients while being even more efficient.

He added: “Our staff are our biggest asset, but also our biggest cost and we are exploring how to best manage and substantially reduce our costs whilst ensuring we continue to provide quality healthcare and fulfil our commitment to the people of Rotherham to build a healthier future together.”

The news has been greeted with anger by UNISON, who said the cuts would have a ‘hugely damaging’ impact on patient care.

UNISON head of health for Yorkshire and Humberside Pam Johnson, said: “This is terrible news for patients and for the local community who will lose vital health services.”

“Cutting nursing staff at a time when we have an ageing population and have already lost nearly 6,000 nurses since the ConDems came to power should worry everyone who relies on the NHS in Rotheram.”

“This announcement will be a devastating blow for families in the run up to Christmas. The jobs market is incredibly tough; people will struggle to find other work. The Trust says it is looking at voluntary redundancies and natural wastage but the scale of the job losses causes huge concern and compulsory redundancies aren’t ruled out of the Trust’s plans.”

What do you think about the cuts? Are you worried the standard of your care could be affected?

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