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NHS workforce head's plea to avoid mass redundancy

Source: guardian.co.uk Society

Nov 04, 2009

Summary

Large-scale job losses 'could threaten the NHS's recovery from recession'

The head of the NHS workforce has challenged managers to avoid imposing mass redundancies on the health service in a bid to save £20bn over the next five years.

Sian Thomas, director of NHS Employers, warned trusts – and, by implication, politicians – to avoid the temptation of making quick savings by cutting back on jobs.

"NHS leaders must explore every alternative before making redundancies to ensure the NHS remains in good health as the economy improves," she told the organisation's annual conference in Birmingham.

"It needs to retain a skilled workforce to ensure that quality patient care does not suffer as we overcome the consequences of significantly reduced funding.

"The NHS must avoid this impacting on morale and increased workload pressures in order to improve patient safety and continue to improve clinical outcomes at the front line level. Indeed chief executives are concerned that the NHS currently lacks enough staff with the right talent and skills to lead it through recovery."

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