Job losses at Royal Surrey County Hospital

CONCERNS that patient care could be at risk have been raised after it was announced about 100 jobs will go at Royal Surrey County Hospital.

Public sector union Unison fear frontline services will suffer with the announcement that 10 nursing jobs will be lost as part of approximately 30 proposed redundancies.

There will also be three redundancies in specialist roles if the staff involved cannot be redeployed.

The job losses are part of a consultation on proposals to reduce staff from April onwards at the Guildford hospital.

Unison has expressed concern over the job losses and said it was in consultation with the Trust.

Sarah O'Donoghue, Unison regional organiser for Surrey, said: "We are not surprised but obviously we are very disappointed.

"Clearly the job losses are bad news for the Royal Surrey, bad news for patients, bad news for staff and bad news for the community. It is potentially bad news for the exchequer as well because it will have to pay out money in benefits.

She added: "It is hard to see how this isn't going to have some impact on patient care. If you lose a nurse on the ward then it is obvious there is a direct impact."

The Trust said 100 posts will disappear in total, but many of these involved vacancies not being filled. The difference in posts will also be made up by releasing bank and agency positions. It said its changes to frontline staff were "minimal".

Nick Moberly, the Trust's chief executive, said in a statement: "This reduction in costs is essential to ensure the Trust remains viable in the coming year and the relatively small number of staff reductions is against a backdrop of a comparably much larger increase in staff numbers across the Trust since 2009.

"The proposals have been subject to a detailed risk assessment to ensure that ongoing high standards of patient care, safety and excellent clinical outcomes. The changes will be implemented in a careful and professional manner.

"A formal consultation is underway with trade unions and employee representatives of the Staff Council, as well as with directly affected staff. 

"The vast majority of posts across the Trust's 3,100-strong workforce will be unaffected by the proposals. For those who are, employee support will be provided and redeployment opportunities explored wherever possible."