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Unions attack hospital job losses Unions attack hospital job losses
(about 1 hour later)
Health union representatives have criticised plans to axe up to 900 jobs and close 200 beds at Leicester's three city hospitals.Health union representatives have criticised plans to axe up to 900 jobs and close 200 beds at Leicester's three city hospitals.
The University Hospitals of Leicester Trust said it would be closing up to eight wards and cutting 900 jobs over two years to make savings of £90m.The University Hospitals of Leicester Trust said it would be closing up to eight wards and cutting 900 jobs over two years to make savings of £90m.
Hospital bosses said cuts would mainly affect office staff but 200 compulsory job cuts were expected.Hospital bosses said cuts would mainly affect office staff but 200 compulsory job cuts were expected.
Union officials warned workers could strike over the proposed cuts.Union officials warned workers could strike over the proposed cuts.
Peter Reading, UHL Trust's chief executive, said savings would be made by patients spending less time in hospital and more people being treated in the community.Peter Reading, UHL Trust's chief executive, said savings would be made by patients spending less time in hospital and more people being treated in the community.
The cuts were necessary to tackle a predicted deficit of £32m across health organisations in Leicestershire and further savings beyond this figure were required, said Mr Reading.The cuts were necessary to tackle a predicted deficit of £32m across health organisations in Leicestershire and further savings beyond this figure were required, said Mr Reading.
We are worried about the effect on staff morale...and a further period of uncertainty Geoffrey Smith, Leicester Patients' ForumWe are worried about the effect on staff morale...and a further period of uncertainty Geoffrey Smith, Leicester Patients' Forum
The trust runs Leicester Royal Infirmary, Leicester General Hospital and Glenfield Hospital.The trust runs Leicester Royal Infirmary, Leicester General Hospital and Glenfield Hospital.
He added staff leaving the service and retirements would account for most of the job losses.He added staff leaving the service and retirements would account for most of the job losses.
Commenting on the announcement affecting Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt's constituency, Shadow Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said: "Patricia Hewitt has been denying the impact of deficits and cut backs in the NHS, now in her own back yard.
"I have no confidence that those resources will be redirected into jobs and services in the community, as Patricia Hewitt has claimed on numerous occasions," he said.
But Nick Holden from workers' union Unison said: "The primary care trust during the course of this year has cut staffing numbers.But Nick Holden from workers' union Unison said: "The primary care trust during the course of this year has cut staffing numbers.
"There are no announcements from the primary care trusts in Leicestershire about additional resources, additional staff or additional services over the next two years."There are no announcements from the primary care trusts in Leicestershire about additional resources, additional staff or additional services over the next two years.
"They have put a statement out noting UHL's (University Hospitals of Leicester) decisions but making no promises at all about increasing services in the community," he added."They have put a statement out noting UHL's (University Hospitals of Leicester) decisions but making no promises at all about increasing services in the community," he added.
Taxpayers' moneyTaxpayers' money
Tim Rideout, chief executive of Leicester City Primary Care Trust, said extra money had been secured.Tim Rideout, chief executive of Leicester City Primary Care Trust, said extra money had been secured.
"Very shortly, there will be a programme of investment which will see and additional £3m put into community services over the coming year."Very shortly, there will be a programme of investment which will see and additional £3m put into community services over the coming year.
"This is about making the best use of resources we have available to us, the best use of taxpayers' money and giving the best service we can to the people of Leicester," he said."This is about making the best use of resources we have available to us, the best use of taxpayers' money and giving the best service we can to the people of Leicester," he said.
Geoffrey Smith from the Leicester Patients' Forum said he welcomed the decision to move more services into the community but had concerns over the lack of consultation.Geoffrey Smith from the Leicester Patients' Forum said he welcomed the decision to move more services into the community but had concerns over the lack of consultation.
"This decision leaves me with some concern that patients and the public have not been given enough opportunity to think this through with the Trust."This decision leaves me with some concern that patients and the public have not been given enough opportunity to think this through with the Trust.
"We are on the side of care closer to home but... we want to make sure quality of care is still there and we are worried about the effect on staff morale which is people dealing with patients during a further period of uncertainty," he said."We are on the side of care closer to home but... we want to make sure quality of care is still there and we are worried about the effect on staff morale which is people dealing with patients during a further period of uncertainty," he said.