Last updated 19:39, Thursday, 08 May 2008

A HEALTH union fears that managers at Cumbria’s two main hospitals may be preparing to shed jobs as they strive to make savings of more than £14 million.

Senior managers at the West Cumberland Hospital, Whitehaven, and the Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle, are seeking permission from NHS bosses to ask for staff volunteers willing to give up their jobs in return for severance payments.

The health union Unison says the move suggests that North Cumbria Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs the two hospitals, is planning to reduce the workforce to save money.

Trust’s chief executive Marie Burnham said the severance initiative could prevent the need for large scale redundancies.

Trust managers need to cut spending by £14.2 million before spring next year. Savings are necessary because of the Government’s drive for NHS efficiency, a new hospital funding mechanism and a reduction in local referrals to hospitals.

Dave Armstrong, regional officer with Unison, said that trust managers asked the union to support the initiative but they refused to back the scheme, saying it gave staff less than a third of the money they would get under a recognised NHS redundancy scheme.

Mr Armstrong feared jobs would be cut to save money, though no specific proposals had yet been made.

He said: “We’re telling our members not to be tempted by voluntary severance offers.

“They’re not managing with the numbers they’ve got now, never mind reducing the workforce. Certain areas are struggling to get qualified staff for the night shifts.”

Ms Burnham stressed that the severance scheme would be entirely voluntary.

She said that they had already identified £7 million of the £14.2 million savings needed and were confident of to delivering the rest this year.

“We have consulted with staff-side representatives over the introduction of a new voluntary severance scheme for staff. “

“This is a scheme which would be entirely voluntary. Staff would have the option to consider things such as early retirement or a change of career.”