Frontline to benefit from cuts at North East health trust
Sep 7 2010 by Helen Rae, The Journal
MORE details have emerged on plans to cut management jobs at a North East health trust.
Following the announcement that the region’s NHS had to reduce costs and reinvest savings from frontline services, details of interim structures have now been revealed by County Durham and Darlington Community Health Services (CDDCHS).
Most staff working for CDDCHS – the provider arm of NHS County Durham and Darlington – are in frontline positions and will benefit from reductions made from management cost savings.
It is expected 58 managerial jobs will be axed. Consultation on new structures began yesterday, and will end on October 6.
CDDCHS is firstly asking for voluntary redundancies and health bosses say they are working closely with staff representatives to keep them involved in the changes.
Tom Hunt, interim chief operating officer for CDDCHS, said: “We have now opened consultation with staff on proposed interim structures to reduce management costs and ensure the continued effective provision of community services in County Durham and Darlington.
“I am humbled by the dedication I see on a day-to-day basis from staff and I am fully committed to keeping everyone informed throughout this difficult process. We are continuing to work closely with staff side representatives to ensure appropriate procedures are followed.
“This is a challenging time for the NHS and we are committed to providing healthcare of the highest possible standard to the communities we serve.”
CDDCHS needs to deliver annual management cost savings of £4.3m by April next year.
As reported in The Journal, by April 2011 North East Strategic Health Authority and the 12 primary care trusts (PCTs) in the region must collectively deliver annual management cost savings of £27m.
In total, 516 managerial cuts have been proposed at NHS trusts on Tyneside, Wearside, County Durham and Teesside. The Northern Royal College of Nursing has also warned thousands of health workers and hundreds of beds across the region are to be axed over the next four years under multi-million pound cost-cutting plans.
The nurses’ union says that out of £800m in savings, around £369.5m will be permanently cut from health budgets in the North East and Cumbria. There will be 1,750 fewer healthcare workers and 403 fewer beds within four years which could severely affect patient care, they say.
Health bosses estimate they will need to secure £800m cost efficiencies by 2014 and all savings will be reinvested directly into frontline services.
They insist changes being made will substantially improve patient care and are a result of a new operating framework, which focuses on offering more services at home and in the community.
The Government said it is committed to increasing the NHS budget in real terms, which currently stands at £4.6bn.
