RCN comments on job cuts in London

Published: 18 February 2011

For immediate release: 17 February 2011

Responding to reports that almost 1000 posts could be lost at St George’s Hospital in Tooting and Kingston Hospital, Royal College of Nursing Chief Executive & General Secretary Dr Peter Carter said:

“There is no way on earth that the loss of almost 1000 posts will not affect frontline care for patients. This is yet another example of short-term, ill-advised thinking by some Trusts that is jeopardising care and destroying morale within the NHS. The gulf between the rhetoric of protecting the frontline and what is actually happening in hospital wards and community services is widening by the day.

“We know that many Trusts are facing financial difficulties but they need to fully engage and take NHS staff with them through these challenges. Slashing jobs and bed numbers on this scale is not the answer. We identified in November that 27,000 NHS posts were earmarked to be lost across the UK. Given recent developments, it seems obvious that this figure is only increasing. Back in November, the Department of Health issued a bland press statement saying it does not recognise our figures. Today’s announcement confirms our view that these cuts are real.”

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Notes for Editor

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. 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 organizations.