Sunderland: Health trust plans 500 job cuts

A health trust is to axe about 500 jobs in the latest round of NHS job cuts, the BBC reports today.

City Hospitals Sunderland Foundation Trust said it had to cut 10% of its 5,000 workforce to clear a debt of £5m.The trust, which runs Sunderland Royal Hospital, Ryhope General and Monkwearmouth Hospital, also wants to save £20m over the next few years.

It said it hoped the jobs could be shed through "natural wastage".

Since March 2006 more than 9,000 jobs have been shed by trusts across the UK. Chief executive of the trust, Ken Bremner, said losing jobs was a major concern, but necessary to save money over the next three years.