MP seeks reassurance of no hospital job cuts

9.31.47pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 11th Apr 2006

MP Tim Farron has written to the Chief Executive of the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Trust to ask for his reassurance that national figures released showing massive job losses in the NHS over the last month will not be mirrored here.

Research conducted by the Liberal Democrats suggests that given current trends the total number of NHS job cuts could reach 24,000 nationally. Figures for the last month show that the total number of job losses in the NHS has exceeded 6,000.

Tim commented: "I am extremely worried by these national figures for job losses in the NHS. I am concerned that patient care is being compromised by Government pressure on NHS trusts to claw back deficits and make savings. The Government needs to realise that what is needed in the NHS is long-term planning, not short-term, quick-fire solutions that actually end up creating more problems than we began with. I have written to the Chief Executive of the local hospital trust to ascertain whether any potential for job losses exists in this area".