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28 June 2010: We will fight Addenbrooke’s job cuts says UNISON
CAMBRIDGE Health Branch of UNISON will not accept job cuts which affect standards of care or safety, the union said today. It has been revealed that Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Addenbrooke’s, is planning some 700 job cuts over the next three years, including 170 nursing posts.These cuts follow warnings earlier in the year from the Trust management that around £40 million savings will have to be made because of a freeze in funding, and that most of the savings will have to come from staff costs.
Martin Booth, chair of Cambridge Health UNISON, said: ‘There is no indication that activity at Addenbrooke’s is set to reduce; indeed, a recent increase in staffing levels indicates that if anything demand for services is increasing.
‘So to plan to cut staffing numbers at this time will, we believe, potentially affect the standards and the safety of the care our members and other staff are expected to provide.
‘We will oppose any reductions in staff numbers which put standards and safety at risk. This does not just mean “front-line” staff; administrative and support staff also provide an absolutely vital service without which patient care could not take place.’
UNISON also points out that the background reason for the Addenbrooke’s cuts is the freezing of the ‘tariff’ paid to hospitals for their work, despite increases in costs.
This shows that despite the government’s pledge that the NHS is ‘safe’ from the current round of spending cuts, in fact the NHS is not safe at all and is facing draconian cuts, as the Addenbrooke’s situation confirms.
The union pledges to work with other staff organisations and the public to fight the cuts and defend the NHS.
Article added 2010-06-28 20:14:42
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