RCN warns over jobs at risk at NHS Direct
Published: 27 January 2012
The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) today warned that as many as 300 frontline staff at NHS Direct could lose their jobs. NHS Direct plans to introduce new roster arrangements for staff in order to cut costs as they begin moving towards the new NHS 111 services, due to be rolled out through 2012-13.
This follows an extensive consultation period with the RCN and other trade unions, who oppose the changes. Those staff who are not able to work on the revised shifts patterns will be dismissed with the option to reapply for the remaining shifts. This will include staff who have flexible working arrangements in place as carers of young children for example and those who currently work less than 15 hours per week.
Commenting on these changes, Royal College of Nursing (RCN) Chief Executive & General Secretary, Dr Peter Carter, said:
“What we are seeing here is a clear example of quality being compromised in a bid to make short term savings. NHS Direct has developed over recent years into a service that many patients really value. Nurses have led the way in making this a service which can offer reassurance and advice that on many occasions avoids GP referrals and unnecessary trips to hospital. The evidence suggests that this expert advice has kept one and a half million people out of A&E, and saved the NHS £213 million pounds a year. Our fear is that patients, who can often be extremely worried or distressed, will receive a stripped back service from NHS 111, with more being advised to dial 999 or got to A&E, which is far more costly. At a time when the NHS as a whole is under pressure to make savings, it seems nonsensical that one part of the health service is in effect picking up the tab for another.
“We know that NHS Direct is in a difficult position at the moment, however many of the staff have worked there for years and are naturally very worried and upset about the future. NHS Direct also employs higher numbers of disabled workers who may not be able to cope with the physical demands of a hospital ward, yet are still able to provide sound clinical advice to patients. If these workers lose their jobs they may struggle to find future employment within a healthcare setting and as a result the NHS will lose their expert skills.”
NHS Direct is not the only organisation tendering to deliver NHS 111 services. The new system will allow private and GP out of hours providers and the ambulance service, among others, to deliver this service.
Commenting on this, Dr Carter said:
“Not only will this fragmentation lead to yet more postcode lotteries across the country, we will also lose the highly beneficial national picture that NHS Direct statistics provide. I would urge the Board of NHS Direct to take the time to think through this process and while they may be under pressure to make savings, there could be other means of doing so. Equally, the Government would do well to look at the long term cost effectiveness of NHS Direct and the service it provides, rather than attempting to steam roll in a cheaper alternative that compromises patient care. The RCN will be supporting all members employed by NHS Direct who are currently going through this distressing upheaval.”
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.