NHS Trust Announces 600 Job Cuts

A North Yorkshire NHS trust is to axe 600 jobs – a third of its workforce – under plans to save £10m, union leaders have been told. Managers from the Scarborough and North East Yorkshire NHS Trust gave the news to staff on Wednesday.

UNISON regional officer Ray Gray said the redundancies were a “disaster” for health services and would have a “devastating” impact on the area. The union is now seeking talks with health secretary Alan Johnson.

The trust runs Scarbrough General and Bridlington District hospitals. A spokesman said it would make a statement on the cuts later on Wednesday.

Mr Gray said: “Job losses on this scale are completely unsustainable. It would devastate the NHS in this part of Yorkshire and have a profoundly damaging effect on the local economy. How the trust has ended up in this dire situation is a matter of grave concern and we are seeking urgent talks with the Secretary of State for Health to find a way of saving the jobs and the health service in the Scarborough district.

“Job losses on this scale are unprecedented and it is vital that the government steps in to stop the disaster happening. The trust was established in 1992 and covers one of the largest geographical areas in England.”