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."

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