Hospital to cut 95 more jobs

7:59am Tuesday 16th January 2007

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MORE jobs are to be axed at The Royal Bolton Hospital.

Just days after it was announced up to 130 posts could be made redundant as a result of privatisation of some outpatient tests, bosses at the cash-strapped hospital have confirmed a further 95 jobs could go.

Savings of £3.75 million - three per cent of the hospital's total budget - must be made to meet Government demands on efficiency.

Bosses insist the job losses and cash cuts will not affect patient care, and that compulsory redundancies will be a last resort.

But Damian Isherwood, communications officer for the union Unison, said: "We will be writing to MPs Ruth Kelly, David Crausby and Brian Iddon to find out what they intend to do about this appalling decision."

Last week, hospital bosses said 130 jobs could be lost with the decision of regional NHS chiefs to privatise initial tests in ear, nose and throat, urology, gynaecology, general surgery and orthopaedics.

The majority of outpatients normally sent to these departments through GP referrals will now be sent to new clinics.

Mr Isherwood said: "To be told that 130 jobs will go because we aren't being allowed to compete for certain services is one thing, and then to be told that a further 95 jobs will go because we aren't competitive enough is absolutely disgraceful."

Royal Bolton Hospital finance director Colin Dunn said: "In the current financial year, we've been implementing a savings plan, which we anticipate will mean we'll end the year in balance. This is a wonderful achievement by all involved.

"At the time we announced our 2006/07 savings plan, we also said we anticipated further savings having to be made in future years and that this was likely to affect jobs."

Council and union chiefs are furious at the news, and are demanding reassurances the people of Bolton will still receive the best care possible.

Cllr Andy Morgan, chairman of Bolton Council's health scrutiny committee, said: "I, like most of the Bolton public, don't understand why in one breath we're being told we're getting more investment, but then year on year we have significant job losses.

"When it's presented to the council, we will be making sure any proposals won't affect patient care."

Last July, 130 jobs - 80 of them nursing posts - were scrapped as the hospital battled to save £6 million.

Mr Dunn said: "There is the possibility that the development of alternatives to hospital services will mean fewer jobs at the hospital, but more jobs elsewhere.

"As we have already stated, we will aim to maintain the quality and safety of services and to avoid compulsory redundancies."