10,000 NHS jobs threatened - RCN
Published: 07 July 2010
Embargoed until: 00:01, Wednesday 7 July 2010
10,000 NHS jobs threatened - RCN
Almost 10,000 NHS posts in England, the equivalent of a large teaching hospital, have been earmarked for cuts, the Royal College of Nursing reveals today (7 July). The figure explodes the myth that frontline services will be protected as the NHS strives to meet severe financial challenges.
The RCN says that the figure – which has doubled over the last two months - illustrates a growing gulf between government will to protect frontline care over the term of this Parliament and short-sighted cuts that are being imposed by NHS Trusts under the watch of Strategic Health Authorities.
In April this year the RCN revealed that it was aware of more than 5,000 posts being earmarked for cuts. At the time the College warned that targeting frontline services would risk ‘sending the health service back to the days of hospital trolleys in corridors and year long waits for operations.’
Now the RCN says that the number of posts under threat has doubled and that 47 NHS jobs a day are reduced or lost through not replacing vacant posts and freezes in recruitment across England.
Today’s announcement comes despite government pledges to protect frontline care as the NHS seeks to make £15 - £20 billion of efficiency savings by 2014.
Dr Peter Carter, RCN Chief Executive & General Secretary, said:
“We are realistic about the need to find financial savings in the NHS but our figures expose the myth that frontline services will be protected as NHS bodies begin their drive to create huge efficiencies. We believe the government when they say they want to protect NHS care. However, local NHS organisations appear to be adopting a slash and burn approach to jobs which is shocking and will have a disastrous effect not only on the quality of care provided and also on the range of treatments that are available. Most companies would struggle to save a fifth of their budgets through efficiencies alone and while there is room to improve in the NHS we need also to contend with an increasing demand on services and rising public health pressures. If this trend for cuts continues the NHS will soon be straining at the seams.
“Frontline staff know where the efficiencies can be made and Trusts should therefore engage with staff to ensure better care. Today we implore Trusts to consider the impact on patient care of these post closures – we have found little evidence of this consideration during our work.”
The RCN examined board papers from hundreds of NHS Trusts, along with reports from its regional offices. It found the following:
• 9,973 posts were earmarked for redundancies, vacancy freezes, natural wastage, downgrading of job roles, ceasing the use of agency and temporary staff
• Over 100 NHS providers facing financial pressure with many facing delivering between £1 million to £35 million in savings over the next financial year
• Several Trusts are reviewing skill mix so that non-registered staff provide more care
• Trusts are actively re-banding or down-banding posts in order to secure savings
• Some Trusts are offering compulsory redundancies
• Few Trusts are taking innovative approaches to finding efficiencies such as consulting with staff and a clinical evidence based configuration of services.
In a bid to help the health service meet financial challenges while also maintaining and improving care, the RCN today launched its Frontline First campaign. Through the campaign website nurses from across the UK are asked to come forward with examples of where cuts, waste and innovation are taking place in the NHS.
Dr Carter continued:
“Nurses are realistic about the need to tackle the severe financial challenges facing the NHS, and they know how to do it. By spreading innovative care and helping to reduce waste we can help meet these challenges. Through finding genuine efficiencies and spreading good practice we can ensure genuine value for money for the taxpayers’ health pound.”
The Frontline First campaign site can be found at www.rcn.org.uk/frontlinefirst
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Notes for Editors
1. For further information, interviews or illustrations please contact the RCN Media Office on 0207 647 3633, press.office@rcn.org.uk or visit http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/media
2. Forecasts from the Office of Budget Responsibility have suggested that some 600,000 jobs will be lost in the public sector by 2016. Today’s 9,973 figure is a stark reminder that despite health being a protected department it is unlikely that any frontline services will be immune from cuts.
3. Examples of posts earmarked for cuts include:
a. Nottinghamshire Community Health (part of Nottinghamshire County NHS PCT) -200 posts
b. East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust - 105 posts
c. Northumberland Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust - 300 posts
d. Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust - 250 posts
e. Heatherwood and Wexham Park Hospital NHS Foundation Trust - 470 posts
f. Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust - 182 posts
g. Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospital NHS Trust - 340 posts
h. Leeds Teaching Hospital NHS Trust - 677 posts
4. The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) is the voice of nursing across the UK and is the largest professional union of nursing staff in the world. The RCN promotes the interest of nurses and patients on a wide range of issues and helps shape healthcare policy by working closely with the UK Government and other national and international institutions, trade unions, professional bodies and voluntary organisations.