Two more hospitals announced job cuts yesterday, as they struggled to balance their books, reports the Daily Telegraph.
The decision by Barking Havering and Redbridge Hospitals National Health Service trust in east London to shed 650 staff and by Barnsley District Hospital to cut 150 jobs, brings the total announced this week to more than 1,300.
Earlier the Norfolk and Norwich, and the Weston Hospital at Weston-super-Mare announced cuts of 450 and 60 respectively.
A job survey by the Royal College of Nursing estimates that 13,000 are to be cut, of which a third will affect nurses. Trusts say that staff turnover will account for most of the cuts with redundancies used as a last resort.
The latest announcements came as the health select committee said it was launching an inquiry into the scale of the financial problems affecting the NHS.
Saturday 29 April 2006
Thursday 27 April 2006
Angry nurses drown out minister
Infuriated nurses stopped Patricia Hewitt in her tracks yesterday as they interrupted her speech and demanded their voices be heard.
The Daily Telegraph reports that the Health Secretary, who was addressing the Royal College of Nursing conference in Bournemouth, had been met by more than 2,000 stony faces, a sea of white and yellow campaign T-shirts, and a welcome somewhere between cool and frigid.
"Put your speech away," shouted the nurses as Miss Hewitt, almost repeating the address she had made to Unison in Monday, said she would help any nurses made redundant to get new jobs. "Where? Where?" they yelled.
About 15 minutes into her speech, the nurses, who had already interrupted her with derisive laughter, cries of "rubbish", "resign" and the stamping of hundreds of feet, had finally had enough.
There would be more arguments and controversy in the coming year, Miss Hewitt was saying as the shouting spread, the crescendo of stamping grew, and she was finally drowned out.
The Daily Telegraph reports that the Health Secretary, who was addressing the Royal College of Nursing conference in Bournemouth, had been met by more than 2,000 stony faces, a sea of white and yellow campaign T-shirts, and a welcome somewhere between cool and frigid.
"Put your speech away," shouted the nurses as Miss Hewitt, almost repeating the address she had made to Unison in Monday, said she would help any nurses made redundant to get new jobs. "Where? Where?" they yelled.
About 15 minutes into her speech, the nurses, who had already interrupted her with derisive laughter, cries of "rubbish", "resign" and the stamping of hundreds of feet, had finally had enough.
There would be more arguments and controversy in the coming year, Miss Hewitt was saying as the shouting spread, the crescendo of stamping grew, and she was finally drowned out.
Thursday 20 April 2006
Oxfordshire: NHS merger plans to combat debts
Plans for a major reorganisation of Oxfordshire's health service threaten months of upheaval at a time when the NHS is grappling with massive debts - reports the Abingdon Herald.
The Thames Valley Health Authority, faced with presiding over job cuts as the size of its deficit grows weekly, is to be abolished.
Instead, it will form part of a giant new strategic NHS authority, which will also include Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
The news comes as the size of the budget deficit facing the Thames Valley authority is estimated as being anything between £35m and £82m.
Mark Ladbrooke, chairman of Unison's Oxfordshire Health branch, said the union had unsuccessfully fought for a postponement of cuts in wards and community hospitals during the consultation on the reorganisation.
The Thames Valley Health Authority, faced with presiding over job cuts as the size of its deficit grows weekly, is to be abolished.
Instead, it will form part of a giant new strategic NHS authority, which will also include Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
The news comes as the size of the budget deficit facing the Thames Valley authority is estimated as being anything between £35m and £82m.
Mark Ladbrooke, chairman of Unison's Oxfordshire Health branch, said the union had unsuccessfully fought for a postponement of cuts in wards and community hospitals during the consultation on the reorganisation.
Wednesday 19 April 2006
Harrogate: Foundation hospital planning cuts
Harrogate Hospital has revealed plans for major cost cuts this year, reports the BBC.
The hospital trust, which has forecast a deficit of between £4.2m and £9.2m, said it wanted to cut beds and surgery, but had no immediate plans to axe jobs. A disabled rehabilitation unit would also close under the plans.
Finance Director Jonathan Coulter said it had been hit by local primary care trust (PCT) plans to cut the amount of work given to the hospital by £7m.
A cost-cutting programme is being prepared that will generate savings of £4.5m.
Harrogate & Knaresborough MP Phil Willis (Lib Dem) raised the issue in the House of Commons and said: "Why should my constituents suffer for failures elsewhere in the system and above all for government meddling."
In fact his constituents are suffering because of the sheer scale of public money draining away to the audit-failing and serially wasteful European Union – a process which Mr Willis fully supports.
Indeed, Mr Willis has yet to indicate that he will oppose Mr Blair’s further generous gift to the EU of an extra £2.5bn a year of public money.
Unless Mr Willis acts to prevent such obvious waste and unjustified spending, by voting against the new EU budget deal when it comes before Parliament, he cannot be surprised that there is little money left for his local hospital. And his constituents will know who to blame for that situation.
The hospital trust, which has forecast a deficit of between £4.2m and £9.2m, said it wanted to cut beds and surgery, but had no immediate plans to axe jobs. A disabled rehabilitation unit would also close under the plans.
Finance Director Jonathan Coulter said it had been hit by local primary care trust (PCT) plans to cut the amount of work given to the hospital by £7m.
A cost-cutting programme is being prepared that will generate savings of £4.5m.
Harrogate & Knaresborough MP Phil Willis (Lib Dem) raised the issue in the House of Commons and said: "Why should my constituents suffer for failures elsewhere in the system and above all for government meddling."
In fact his constituents are suffering because of the sheer scale of public money draining away to the audit-failing and serially wasteful European Union – a process which Mr Willis fully supports.
Indeed, Mr Willis has yet to indicate that he will oppose Mr Blair’s further generous gift to the EU of an extra £2.5bn a year of public money.
Unless Mr Willis acts to prevent such obvious waste and unjustified spending, by voting against the new EU budget deal when it comes before Parliament, he cannot be surprised that there is little money left for his local hospital. And his constituents will know who to blame for that situation.
NHS can't afford drug that transforms lives
A row over a "breakthrough" treatment for diabetes broke out yesterday as it was rejected for NHS use by the Government’s drug watchdog on the grounds that it was not cost effective.
The new product, insulin that is inhaled, could transform the lives of sufferers, who have to inject insulin up to five times a day. However, it costs about £500 a year more per patient, reports The Times.
This latest example of "drug rationing" came as Tony Blair insisted that the NHS was not facing disaster despite thousands of job losses and cutbacks in expensive treatments as a result of a financial squeeze.
The new product, insulin that is inhaled, could transform the lives of sufferers, who have to inject insulin up to five times a day. However, it costs about £500 a year more per patient, reports The Times.
This latest example of "drug rationing" came as Tony Blair insisted that the NHS was not facing disaster despite thousands of job losses and cutbacks in expensive treatments as a result of a financial squeeze.
Thursday 13 April 2006
Birmingham: Hundreds of hospital jobs to go
The BBC reports today that hundreds of hospital jobs are being axed by a West Midlands health trust.
At a budget meeting of the Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust it was decided to cut up to 800 jobs at its three Birmingham and Black Country sites.
The trust runs City, Sandwell and Rowley Regis hospitals and needs to save up to £20m in the next year. This deficit is barely two days worth of our contributions to the EU budget at the newly agreed level of £115 million a week.
Auditors haven't been able to explain for eleven years running where that money paid to the EU then goes to, so wouldn't it be better to use it to save these hospital jobs instead?
The cuts are the latest in a series of job losses in English hospitals, which began with up to 1,000 being cut in neighbouring Staffordshire in March.
John Adler, chief executive of the Trust said, ""I think it's a little bit rash to say that patients will notice no change at all".
At a budget meeting of the Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust it was decided to cut up to 800 jobs at its three Birmingham and Black Country sites.
The trust runs City, Sandwell and Rowley Regis hospitals and needs to save up to £20m in the next year. This deficit is barely two days worth of our contributions to the EU budget at the newly agreed level of £115 million a week.
Auditors haven't been able to explain for eleven years running where that money paid to the EU then goes to, so wouldn't it be better to use it to save these hospital jobs instead?
The cuts are the latest in a series of job losses in English hospitals, which began with up to 1,000 being cut in neighbouring Staffordshire in March.
John Adler, chief executive of the Trust said, ""I think it's a little bit rash to say that patients will notice no change at all".
Cash crisis deepens for NHS trust
More than 60 beds across the Fylde's hospitals are set to stay closed as an NHS trust grapples with a potential £22 million deficit - reports the Blackpool Citizen.
Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre NHS Trust will reopen Rossall Hospital but close wards at South Shore and Clifton to save £2m, while three other wards will remain closed until autumn at least in the latest proposed reorganisation.
And trust chiefs have also revealed that this year's deficit could be even bigger than had previously been reported because the trust had, in the past, relied on one-off income including land sales to help balance the books.
The wards affected are wards three and four at Clifton Hospital (inpatient rehabilitation) to be relocated to Rossall Hospital; Ward four and five, South Shore Hospital (ortho geriatric) to be relocated to Ward three and Ward four Clifton Hospital; Ward one, South Shore Hospital (nurse led ward) to be relocated to Bispham Hospital Rehabilitation Unit; South Shore Day Hospital to be relocated to Rossall Hospital Rehabilitation Unit.
Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre NHS Trust will reopen Rossall Hospital but close wards at South Shore and Clifton to save £2m, while three other wards will remain closed until autumn at least in the latest proposed reorganisation.
And trust chiefs have also revealed that this year's deficit could be even bigger than had previously been reported because the trust had, in the past, relied on one-off income including land sales to help balance the books.
The wards affected are wards three and four at Clifton Hospital (inpatient rehabilitation) to be relocated to Rossall Hospital; Ward four and five, South Shore Hospital (ortho geriatric) to be relocated to Ward three and Ward four Clifton Hospital; Ward one, South Shore Hospital (nurse led ward) to be relocated to Bispham Hospital Rehabilitation Unit; South Shore Day Hospital to be relocated to Rossall Hospital Rehabilitation Unit.
Wednesday 12 April 2006
NHS facing 'challenging times' says Blair
Tony Blair has admitted that the NHS is facing "challenging times" as he held a summit to discuss the growing financial crisis in the health service.
But Mr Blair insisted that reforms would bring improvements, despite continuing job cuts across the NHS as trusts struggle to cope with serious financial deficits, reports the Daily Telegraph.
Mr Blair said: "The hard thing is that when change is happening there's enormous resistance but sometimes what's important is to hold your own and have confidence that the change will deliver a better service."
Chief executives of primary care trusts and health authorities were invited to today's summit to discuss how to bring the NHS back into financial balance. The total NHS deficit for this year is expected to be £623 million.
The meeting was held a day after the West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust became the latest to announce jobs cuts with up to 500 posts being shed to tackle its £28.6 million deficit.
500 hospital jobs at stake for not even two days worth of our contributions to the fraud-ridden EU budget? Is this what MPs call supporting public services?
But Mr Blair insisted that reforms would bring improvements, despite continuing job cuts across the NHS as trusts struggle to cope with serious financial deficits, reports the Daily Telegraph.
Mr Blair said: "The hard thing is that when change is happening there's enormous resistance but sometimes what's important is to hold your own and have confidence that the change will deliver a better service."
Chief executives of primary care trusts and health authorities were invited to today's summit to discuss how to bring the NHS back into financial balance. The total NHS deficit for this year is expected to be £623 million.
The meeting was held a day after the West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust became the latest to announce jobs cuts with up to 500 posts being shed to tackle its £28.6 million deficit.
500 hospital jobs at stake for not even two days worth of our contributions to the fraud-ridden EU budget? Is this what MPs call supporting public services?
'Come clean' on deficit, NHS told
BBC News reports that Unison has written to the chief executives of 57 NHS trusts following York Hospital's decision announced on Monday to cut 200 jobs to save £2.5m.
The letter demands accurate information on any deficits and what measures are being planned to balance the books.
A BBC News survey in January revealed the region's NHS was £90m in the red.
In recent weeks, hospitals across England have announced thousands of job cuts in a bid to balance their books.
The letter demands accurate information on any deficits and what measures are being planned to balance the books.
A BBC News survey in January revealed the region's NHS was £90m in the red.
In recent weeks, hospitals across England have announced thousands of job cuts in a bid to balance their books.
Tuesday 11 April 2006
West Herts hospital trust plans 500 jobs cut
Hospitals in West Hertfordshire are the latest to face up to mounting debt in the NHS by shedding jobs, according to the BBC.
The trust said up to 500 jobs would have to go in the next 12 to 18 months to help tackle debts of £28.6m - whereas the government hands £115 million to the EU every single week without justification.
West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust said it would cut back on temporary staff to reduce the number of people in permanent posts affected.
The trust, with hospitals at St Albans, Watford, Hemel Hempstead and Northwood, recently published restructure plans.
The trust's financial forecast shows that, even after delivering the current turnaround programme and making some staffing cuts over a five-year period, the hospitals would still face a deficit of £18m in 2009/10 because of changes in income and costs.
The trust said up to 500 jobs would have to go in the next 12 to 18 months to help tackle debts of £28.6m - whereas the government hands £115 million to the EU every single week without justification.
West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust said it would cut back on temporary staff to reduce the number of people in permanent posts affected.
The trust, with hospitals at St Albans, Watford, Hemel Hempstead and Northwood, recently published restructure plans.
The trust's financial forecast shows that, even after delivering the current turnaround programme and making some staffing cuts over a five-year period, the hospitals would still face a deficit of £18m in 2009/10 because of changes in income and costs.
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Letter: Stop the Cheques
A DM branch organiser has a letter in the Daily Telegraph today on the theme of our Stop the Cheques campaign:
Dear Sir,
Patricia Hewitt is facing pressure from Labour MPs to help debt-ridden hospitals amid fear of a possible 24,000 job losses across the health service (News, April 10).
My solution is very simple. Currently, the net sum of taxpayers' money given to the budget of the European Union is £82 million each week, and next year this figure will rise to £134 million.
I propose withholding one month's payment to the European Union to save these job losses, without the need to raise taxes.
Harry Randall,
Cerne Abbas, Dorset
Dear Sir,
Patricia Hewitt is facing pressure from Labour MPs to help debt-ridden hospitals amid fear of a possible 24,000 job losses across the health service (News, April 10).
My solution is very simple. Currently, the net sum of taxpayers' money given to the budget of the European Union is £82 million each week, and next year this figure will rise to £134 million.
I propose withholding one month's payment to the European Union to save these job losses, without the need to raise taxes.
Harry Randall,
Cerne Abbas, Dorset
NHS chief says hospitals must spend less on drugs and staff
A demand for drastic cuts in the health service will raise fears that some patients may not be given expensive treatments, reports The Times.
Tony Blair is to be told today that hospitals must make drastic cuts in spending on drugs and agency staff.
Sir Ian Carruthers, the acting head of the NHS, will present his plan for reducing the estimated £750 million NHS deficit at a No 10 seminar attended by health service managers.
Sir Ian, who took over after Sir Nigel Crisp’s sudden resignation, believes that there is considerable scope for cuts in the £10.3 billion spent every year on drugs and the £1 billion on temporary staff.
This will raise fears that some patients will not be given expensive treatments for cancer or multiple sclerosis from which they could benefit.
Tony Blair is to be told today that hospitals must make drastic cuts in spending on drugs and agency staff.
Sir Ian Carruthers, the acting head of the NHS, will present his plan for reducing the estimated £750 million NHS deficit at a No 10 seminar attended by health service managers.
Sir Ian, who took over after Sir Nigel Crisp’s sudden resignation, believes that there is considerable scope for cuts in the £10.3 billion spent every year on drugs and the £1 billion on temporary staff.
This will raise fears that some patients will not be given expensive treatments for cancer or multiple sclerosis from which they could benefit.
Sunday 9 April 2006
NHS job cuts 'set to quadruple'
Hospital job cuts could reach 24,000 - four times the number of job losses announced in recent weeks - the Liberal Democrats have claimed.
The BBC is reporting today that the Lib Dems said the 6,000 job cuts announced in recent weeks accounted for only a quarter of the total NHS deficit.
Lib Dem health spokesman Steve Webb said the government refused to "come clean" about the crisis in the NHS. However, the Department of Health and NHS bosses dispute the Lib Dem figures.
Thousands of job losses have been announced in recent weeks as trusts battle financial difficulties.
"Every day brings further news of more job cuts which will undoubtedly affect frontline patient care," Mr Webb said. "Staff morale and public confidence in the NHS will continue to crumble until ministers take action to reverse this trend."
The BBC is reporting today that the Lib Dems said the 6,000 job cuts announced in recent weeks accounted for only a quarter of the total NHS deficit.
Lib Dem health spokesman Steve Webb said the government refused to "come clean" about the crisis in the NHS. However, the Department of Health and NHS bosses dispute the Lib Dem figures.
Thousands of job losses have been announced in recent weeks as trusts battle financial difficulties.
"Every day brings further news of more job cuts which will undoubtedly affect frontline patient care," Mr Webb said. "Staff morale and public confidence in the NHS will continue to crumble until ministers take action to reverse this trend."
Saturday 8 April 2006
Patients angry over Worcester hospital cuts
Staff, patients and campaigners have said 720 job losses at three hospitals will affect the quality of care, reports the BBC.
The Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust has said it needs to make the job cuts to help tackle £30m debts - just two days worth of Britain's unjustified payments to the EU.
Health chiefs have said patient care at the Worcestershire Royal in Worcester, the Alexandra in Redditch, and the Kidderminster Hospital will not be hit.
But one campaigner said people were scared of getting ill for fear that they will not get the right treatment.
The Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust has said it needs to make the job cuts to help tackle £30m debts - just two days worth of Britain's unjustified payments to the EU.
Health chiefs have said patient care at the Worcestershire Royal in Worcester, the Alexandra in Redditch, and the Kidderminster Hospital will not be hit.
But one campaigner said people were scared of getting ill for fear that they will not get the right treatment.
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Friday 7 April 2006
York hospital trust to shed 200 jobs
The BBC is reporting that York Hospital is to cut 200 jobs amid a cash crisis at its sister NHS trust.
Only half of the 400 vacancies expected at the York Hospitals Trust during this financial year will be filled in a move expected to save £2.5m.
The hospital said compulsory job losses could not be ruled out, but insisted that key posts would be maintained.
Managers blamed the decision largely on financial problems at the Selby and York Primary Care Trust (PCT), which buys services from the hospital. The PCT is saddled with debts of £23.7m (not even two days worth of our £115 million a week payments to the EU) and has been forced to reduce its spending.
Only half of the 400 vacancies expected at the York Hospitals Trust during this financial year will be filled in a move expected to save £2.5m.
The hospital said compulsory job losses could not be ruled out, but insisted that key posts would be maintained.
Managers blamed the decision largely on financial problems at the Selby and York Primary Care Trust (PCT), which buys services from the hospital. The PCT is saddled with debts of £23.7m (not even two days worth of our £115 million a week payments to the EU) and has been forced to reduce its spending.
Thursday 6 April 2006
Union will fight Devon and Cornwall health job cuts
The BBC is reporting that public sector union Unison is set to fight any compulsory redundancies at hospitals in Devon and Cornwall.
Unison described the 200 proposed job cuts at Derriford Hospital in Plymouth and 300 at the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro as "ridiculous". However both hospitals said the proposed cuts were financially necessary.
In a statement, the Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust, said: "We recognise and respect the position that Unison have taken and it has always been, and continues to be, our intention to keep any compulsory redundancies to an absolute minimum.
"We are working in partnership with our trades unions to fully exploit all options, including redeployments and secondments, before any redundancies are considered."
Unison described the 200 proposed job cuts at Derriford Hospital in Plymouth and 300 at the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro as "ridiculous". However both hospitals said the proposed cuts were financially necessary.
In a statement, the Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust, said: "We recognise and respect the position that Unison have taken and it has always been, and continues to be, our intention to keep any compulsory redundancies to an absolute minimum.
"We are working in partnership with our trades unions to fully exploit all options, including redeployments and secondments, before any redundancies are considered."
Wednesday 5 April 2006
Bath & Norfolk hospitals latest to axe jobs
The Royal United Hospital (RUH) in Bath is to axe up to 300 posts in the latest round of NHS job cuts, reports the BBC.
The 650-bed hospital, which employs 3,500 staff, must make £13.2m savings.
The trust also plans to reduce costs by discharging patients "as soon as clinically possible" and halting the use of agency staff.
The latest redundancies follow the loss of 1,000 jobs at University Hospital, Stoke-on-Trent and 400 at Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust.
The James Paget Hospital, in Gorleston, Norfolk, also announced on Wednesday it is to shed 100 jobs in a bid to reduce its overspend by £4m.
The 650-bed hospital, which employs 3,500 staff, must make £13.2m savings.
The trust also plans to reduce costs by discharging patients "as soon as clinically possible" and halting the use of agency staff.
The latest redundancies follow the loss of 1,000 jobs at University Hospital, Stoke-on-Trent and 400 at Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust.
The James Paget Hospital, in Gorleston, Norfolk, also announced on Wednesday it is to shed 100 jobs in a bid to reduce its overspend by £4m.
Tuesday 4 April 2006
Hundreds of Surrey and Sussex health jobs to be cut
A healthcare trust has said it expects around 400 jobs will go as it attempts to wipe out a £2m monthly overspend, reports the BBC.
Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust announced the cuts as part of a two-year plan aimed at eliminating its £41.2m debt.
Chief executive of the trust, Gary Walker, said: "Our focus will be on retaining essential skills and minimising job losses."
The trust manages Crawley Hospital and East Surrey Hospital.
The government is unable to make up this £2 million monthly shortfall - or indeed the £41.2 million debt - in order to save these jobs, but is apparently able to find £115 million a week for the EU despite no clear idea where the majority of this money then goes to.
Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust announced the cuts as part of a two-year plan aimed at eliminating its £41.2m debt.
Chief executive of the trust, Gary Walker, said: "Our focus will be on retaining essential skills and minimising job losses."
The trust manages Crawley Hospital and East Surrey Hospital.
The government is unable to make up this £2 million monthly shortfall - or indeed the £41.2 million debt - in order to save these jobs, but is apparently able to find £115 million a week for the EU despite no clear idea where the majority of this money then goes to.
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