Cutting 750 jobs from Rotherham Hospital will have a hugely damaging impact on patient care, and is a devastating blow for families in the run up to Christmas, said UNISON, the UK’s largest union today.
Staff who could lose their jobs include admin and clerical workers including medical secretaries, nursing staff, especially those who care for elderly patients, and allied health professionals such as physiotherapists.
The union warned that Rotherham is the latest hospital to announce heavy job cuts, but that it won’t be the last as many more are struggling to cope with the impact of funding cuts, rising patient numbers and the legacy of PFI debt.
The union is calling on the hospital to think again about the three year cuts plan and explore alternatives to avoid these dramatic job losses.
Pam Johnson, UNISON head of health for Yorkshire and Humberside, 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.
“Local people and dedicated NHS staff are paying the price for failings on behalf of senior managers in Rotherham, and for the pressure the government has put on NHS budgets.
“I’d like to know how much was spent on the report from Price Waterhouse Cooper’s when all NHS budgets for patient care are under huge pressure. It is also worrying, but hardly surprising, that the consultants recommend the use of expensive private consultants as the remedy for the trust’s current problems.
“This the worrying shape of things to come as our NHS suffers in Tory hands. Hospitals across the country are struggling to cope with the impact of funding cuts, rising patient numbers and the legacy of PFI debt.
“We are calling on the hospital to think again, explore other options and for the government to step to protect jobs and services if necessary.”
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