NHS workforce 'falls by 11,000'

The BBC is reporting today that the number of people working in the NHS fell by 11,000 in just the last quarter of 2006, according to Office for National Statistics figures.

Health unions said the loss across the UK would "inevitably have a negative impact" and nurses' leaders also warned that workforce cuts would damage patient care.

Dr Peter Carter, general secretary of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), said "These alarming figures confirm what the RCN has long been warning - that deficits are leading to serious cuts in the NHS workforce."

James Johnson, head of the British Medical Association said NHS trusts were under pressure to balance their books, resulting in posts being cut, adding "This is devastating for the staff who are made redundant and demoralising for those who are left to cover the work."

In response, a Department of Health spokesman employed the classic tactic of trying to drown the staff cuts figures in larger numbers, pointing out that 1.36 million people work for the NHS.

Admitting the cuts are happening, he said "Where workforce reductions are taking place, trusts are managing through natural wastage, vacancy freezes and redeploying staff in different ways."

But staff leaving and not being replaced, while of course not as savage as sackings, still has the potential to impact on patient care.

If the government hasn't the money to help NHS trusts solve this problem, then they have an urgent responsibility to act to stop the obvious waste of public money elsewhere.

For example, their sending of billions of pounds every year to an organisation that hasn't been able to prove how the tens of billions we've handed over during the past twelve years has been spent.

Yet the government not only keeps the cash flowing to the EU, but has promised to pay 60% more.

Can MPs in all conscience support this, while hospitals clearly suffer? The vote in Parliament on the EU budget deal will tell.