United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust

320 jobs
Number of planned job losses

Announcement Date

28 June 2006

Employment effect (start)

Foreseen end date

Description

320 jobs are to go at the debt-ridden United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS [National Health Service] Trust in Lincolnshire. The trust said 100 of the job cuts would come from agency staff as it tries to tackle a £15m overspend. The cuts were announced at a public meeting on Tuesday but unions claim 300 jobs have already been lost in recent months through natural wastage. A trust spokesman said the cuts would have 'a fairly small impact' on clinical services. Dr Keith Sands, medical director at the trust, said "efficiency measures" and a reduction in administrative and management staff were the main thrust of the changes.

Helen Scott-South, trust interim chief executive, said: 'In this first part of the turnaround plan there will be a reduction in the size of the workforce of approximately 220 whole time equivalent positions.' She said some of the reductions will be covered by normal staff turnover and transfers.

Peter Savage from the union Unison said the cuts would affect patients. He said: 'The big problem with Lincolnshire is that it's a big place and people need to travel a long way.'

'It's not the same as rationalising services in a city like Nottingham, which will have its problems but people will only have to travel around an extra mile. It is a long way from Grantham to Lincoln.'

He said staff reactions to the cuts had been a mixture of anger, disappointment and confusion.

'We are going to start a campaign to defend the health service. We are meeting with staff and local politicians and want to organise rallies and demonstrations.'

'Industrial action has not been ruled out, it is not our first step but we won't rule it out.'

Sources

• 28 June 2006: BBC News