NHS North East cuts 500 jobs

NHS North East has announced plans to make over 500 managers and administrators redundant in an attempt to save some £27m per annum. If adopted, the redundancies will begin to be made from April next year.

David Stout, NHS North East’s executive director of finance and communications, was quoted by the BBC as saying: "Like all public sector organisations, the NHS in the region must deliver substantial savings in order to meet the challenges of a difficult economic environment.

"The management cost reductions we have outlined will inevitably impact on many people and we are of course committed to keeping staff fully informed throughout this difficult process.

"The savings made will be reinvested directly in front-line NHS services so that we can meet the future challenges of coping with an ageing population, the introduction of new treatments and technologies and increasing our focus on prevention."

Trevor Johnston, Unison’s lead officer for health in the north east, responded by saying: "The trade unions are happy at any improvement to front-line services for patients, but must point out that managers and administrative staff carry out important functions in the NHS.