Vow to nurses in crisis trust

Jan 9 2008 by Chloe Griffiths, The Journal

VITAL frontline nurses will not lose their jobs in the dispute over how to solve a health trust’s funding problems, union leaders said yesterday.

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) yesterday struck a deal to protect the jobs of scores of nurses in rural practices in Northumberland.

It was feared the jobs were under threat as Northumberland Care Trust and GPs in the county try to slash the budget as the trust tackles a £14m debt. Bosses need to save another £11.9m to break even in April.

But yesterday the northern branch of the nursing union, which represents 17,000 in the region, said the trust had effectively guaranteed employment for any practice nurses who could feel the impact of the cuts.

In a meeting between the RCN and Lyn Dixon, executive director of service modernisation at NHS North of Tyne, the trust promised to employ any staff displaced in the dispute between GPs and the trust.

The deal means any nurses made redundant from a GP practice affected by the cuts will be found alternative employment.

RCN regional office Steve Moore said: “Obviously, the RCN’s position remains that we do not want to see a single practice nurse laid off because of this funding dispute, and we want to see the current uncertainties resolved as soon as possible.

“But with the funding dispute between some GP practices and the trust continuing, it’s great to be able to give practice nurses some good news.” He said the meeting had also been an opportunity to discuss modernisation which could lead to more job opportunities for nurses in the county.

Mr Moore said: “The RCN also discussed opportunities under the Service Modernisation Review, which will lead to more patients being treated closer to home. In practice, this means extra funding for services that will be delivered in GP surgeries by practice nurses in Northumberland.

“Crucially, it should mitigate GP funding losses in other areas, which in turn will provide greater job security for practice nurses.”

As a cost-cutting measure, the trust has proposed cutting £1.6m from GP services and has sent out letters to practices giving them individual financial breakdowns.

Practices were given a revised funding offer in December, and now have until January 21 to give their response to the proposals.

A Northumberland Care Trust spokeswoman said the trust had been in close discussions with the RCN.

She said: “We are fully committed to and are working hard to seek agreement with all practices in Northumberland for them to be able to continue to serve their local communities.

“We are very happy to consider suitable alternative employment for any practice nurses that may be displaced as a result of these negotiations – however, we are hopeful that this will not happen.”

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