Leicester's hospitals to axe 700 jobs in bid to cut £58m
At least 700 jobs will go at Leicester's hospitals as managers battle to slash £58m from spending over 12 months.
From April 1, the Government has decided that cash for accident and emergency care, operations and treatments will be capped at current levels – effectively cutting the cash coming into the hospital.
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Malcolm Lowe-Lauri
Managers in Leicester say that unless they can cut spending by £5m a month every month from April, they will run out of money to pay staff and suppliers.
Malcolm Lowe-Lauri, chief executive of University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, said hospitals will have to "batten down the hatches" to make savings immediately.
He said: "I have the burden of responsibility to make sure there is cash in the bank to pay our staff – they have a right to know that they will get paid for the work they do."
The trust plans to save the money by:
Cutting at least 700 jobs;
Introducing a recruitment freeze;
A pay freeze for directors and very senior managers;
Using fewer agency and locum staff;
Using generic drugs, not brand medicines;
Merging departments across NHS organisations;
Shuffling services around hospital sites to avoid doing the same treatments at different hospitals.
These measures will save around £46m. Plans are also being drawn up to find ways of saving the further £12m.
The number of hospital beds are likely to be cut although officials said they will be able to re-open them if demand dictates.
Mr Lowe-Lauri added: "The trust is still dealing with the legacy of not finding ways to work more efficiently in the past.
"This needs bold and radical thinking. It is also about working more efficiently to improve patient care."
Further savings will also have to be found over the next three years.
Union representatives said they had "never known" anything like the savings proposed but have given cautious support to the plans.
David Morgan, chairman of the staff side committee, which represents 10 unions, said: "We have to be pragmatic about this.
"These savings have to be made and at the moment we can't see an end to it."
Mr Morgan, also chairman of Unison's Leicestershire branch, added: "Our greatest concern is the impact of a job freeze on staff who are left and we will be watching this.
"We have needed better leadership and the chief executive is leading from the front."
Directors at the primary care trusts, NHS Leicestershire County and Rutland and NHS Leicester City will also go without pay rises. They have promised £70m to help support and develop schemes to improve patient care and reduce long-term costs.
Catherine Griffiths, chief executive of NHS Leicestershire County and Rutland, said: "If we pull together and think creatively it is our belief we can continue to improve services for our patients and provide better value for taxpayers."
Tim Rideout, chief executive of NHS Leicester City, said: "This can't happen unless we all work collaboratively."
Health Minister Mike O'Brien said: "We want to find £15-20bn by delivering care more efficiently, while making sure that we continue to deliver better services across the NHS."
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by JO, Leicester
Friday, February 05 2010, 3:21PM
“What a way to find out about job losses in your work place. This just epitomises the way that staff are treated within UHL. All this just to push through Foundation status, which ultimately will mean further job losses and cuts in salary for the lowest paid members of staff. Members of the board are taking home salaries in the region of £100,000 p.a. and now there are job adverts in UHL for a Divsional Manager on a salary up to £95,000 and a Divisional Director somewhere in the region of £100,000!! The consultation process with regard to foundation status is just lip service.”
by Kulgan, Crydee
Friday, February 05 2010, 3:12PM
“Pablo,
You shouldn't flatter yourself. I don't wait on here all day waiting for you. That would be sad indeed.
Jim Taylor, thanks and don't worry one does broad shoulders. I also enjoy other people's posts, whether I agree with them or not.”
by john, Leicester
Friday, February 05 2010, 3:12PM
“I just hope and pray that thay Sake the pratts at the top that got us in a mess It needs a good sort out there are to meany fat cats.”
by mark, leicester
Friday, February 05 2010, 2:58PM
“Nhs is out of date it kills more people than it cures.
Its obvious its being run by people for there own interests.
scrap national insurance let the government redistribuite all the money it wastes on it.
Then we would all have to buy our own medical insurance.
Healthier you are cheaper it would be.Im a smoker and like a drink but still reckon it would work out cheaper.
Mark
Leicester.”
by Pablo, Birmingham
Friday, February 05 2010, 2:55PM
“Kulgan, Crydee, my dear, it seems very unlikely you have a life seeing as you sit there all day awaiting my reply.
Yes, do have a super day and a good weekend too.”
by Long term patient, NW Leics
Friday, February 05 2010, 2:40PM
“Too many managers chasing too many targets. Front line care is suffering as I well know from recent experience!”
by UHL Employee, Leicester
Friday, February 05 2010, 2:36PM
“The hospitals in Leicester have been run into the ground since Dr Reading left the Trust. Don't be surprised to read, over the next few weeks, that there will be substantially more than 700 jobs at risk!”
by UHL Employee, Leicester
Friday, February 05 2010, 1:59PM
“Employee UHL NHS - Unfortunately it is those bands that are having to apply for their own jobs of which there will not be enough to go round for the existing staff, which will either mean they have to drop down the payscale (but will still have a job) or who knows what will happen if they dont get the job they are already doing!! There have been job freezes for a few years now where when people leave they do not get replaced, which in turn creates more stress and pressure and obviously higher sickness levels because of this and of course some of these posts will become lost due to what they call "natural wastage" due to people getting tired of it all and leaving or retirement!! I just hope the patient doesnt suffer from all of this because that is what we are all working here for!”
by Dave, H&B
Friday, February 05 2010, 1:59PM
“"Britain is the only country in the EU to have a public NHS."
Wrong !
Most of the EU countries have a very similar system (with another name of course).
The only difference is that in the UK everything is thought about in terms of £££.
The social welfare in France (la sécu) is not only better, but also has less deficit than the UK one.
Why ? because it is run looking at efficiency and quality of service and it is run by proffessionals, not financers. So the money goes where it has to go, services flow better and there is less waste. Patients on the other side, very rarely have to wait more than 3 weeks to get an operation done.
The NHS needs a massive re-think and re-allocation of its human and material ressources by people who fully understand what they do, helped with experts on statistics. Not blind cuts brought by financers who have no idea of the actual impacts of their measures.”
by jim taylor, loughborough
Friday, February 05 2010, 1:29PM
“Labour party policies coming home to roost. Lots more to come. I can't wait for Eric Goodyer's excuses - he'll certainly blame Margaret Thatcher.
And kulgan, ignore Pablo - I always enjoy your contributions whether I agree or not.”