Staff upset over public announcement that hospital is to make 200 redundant

Staff representatives at Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust are "extremely disappointed" that the Trust has chosen to publicise their plans to make 200 staff redundant in order to improve their financial position.

In a statement, they reveal: "To date staff representatives, who have been involved in discussions with the Trust since the beginning of November 2009, have been given no details about the posts and services that will be affected in the Trusts plans. This lack of clarity has led to unacceptable levels of stress to all Trust employees who are worried for their jobs and the future of their patients' services.

"The Trust has informed staff representatives that they believe some areas are overstaffed but the Trust have not produced evidence of this or informed staff representatives which services currently have excess staffing levels.

"It is our understanding that Monitor, the independent regulator of Foundation Trusts, is unhappy with the recovery plan currently being proposed by Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust which is based upon mass redundancies and is a risk to services to local people."

Staff representatives recognise that a recovery plan is urgently required and that this would require some restructuring across the Trust. They believe that it will take five years or more to put Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust back to a balanced financial position.

They say they have made it clear to the Trust that they will continue to work closely with them in order to ensure a realistic plan for financial balance is found but will resist large scale redundancies.

Jenny Price, staff side chairperson, said: "Staff morale is at an all time low. The trade unions and professional organisations need to be involved in discussion on how savings can be made, with the minimum impact on patient services and on staff jobs.