07 July 2010

Thousands of NHS Jobs 'Axed'

Thousands of NHS jobs are being axed despite government promises to protect frontline services, a nursing union has warned.

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) said at least 10,000 jobs were being cut or frozen and people who retire were not being replaced.

The number of jobs at risk has doubled over the past two months. The RCN believes 47 NHS jobs are currently being axed every day.

Chief Executive of the RCN Dr Peter Carter said: "We are increasingly hearing from our members about short term slash and burn supposedly quick fixes to problems, which in a very short space of time stack up to significant problems."

The RCN has launched a new UK-wide campaign to expose NHS budget cuts that are harming patient care, find waste in the NHS and champion nurse-led innovations. 'Frontline First' will empower all RCN members to share what is going on at their workplace and help the college to defend care, services and jobs.

Dr Carter is encouraging RCN members to get involved: "The next few months and years will be some of the toughest in NHS history. If we are to protect patient care, health services and nursing jobs, it is absolutely crucial that we act as one. I ask all members to visit the new website and share their experiences."

(CD/KMcA)