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| Nurse union attacks NHS job cuts | |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Nurses' leaders say patients are being harmed by job cuts in the profession caused by continuing NHS deficits. | |
| The Royal College of Nursing, whose conference opens on Sunday, claims that more than 22,000 NHS posts have been lost in England in the past 18 months. | |
| The government says the union's figures are out of date and misleading. It adds that the number of compulsory redundancies has been very small. | |
| Nurse leaders said specialist nurses had been particularly hard hit. | Nurse leaders said specialist nurses had been particularly hard hit. |
| The government is predicting a small surplus overall for the financial year just finished, but the RCN said the cuts were harming patients. | |
| Forecasts from the third quarter of 2006-7 showed that the NHS was in line to finish the financial year with a £13m surplus. | Forecasts from the third quarter of 2006-7 showed that the NHS was in line to finish the financial year with a £13m surplus. |
| Nurses are the backbone of the health service - it is terrible that they are suffering due to this government's failures Norman Lamb, of the Lib Dems | Nurses are the backbone of the health service - it is terrible that they are suffering due to this government's failures Norman Lamb, of the Lib Dems |
| But that masked the fact that one in three hospitals and primary care trusts were predicting deficits. | But that masked the fact that one in three hospitals and primary care trusts were predicting deficits. |
| Balance is only likely to be achieved by falling back on a contingency fund, built up from cuts in training and public health budgets, and holding back extra money the NHS was due. | Balance is only likely to be achieved by falling back on a contingency fund, built up from cuts in training and public health budgets, and holding back extra money the NHS was due. |
| RCN general secretary Dr Peter Carter said: "The deficits issue is not history - it is real, entrenched and continues to hit patient care, services and jobs. | RCN general secretary Dr Peter Carter said: "The deficits issue is not history - it is real, entrenched and continues to hit patient care, services and jobs. |
| "Yes, the NHS achieved overall financial balance last year - but at what cost? | "Yes, the NHS achieved overall financial balance last year - but at what cost? |
| "Our NHS remains caught up in a rip tide of cuts, rushed reforms and poor workforce planning. | "Our NHS remains caught up in a rip tide of cuts, rushed reforms and poor workforce planning. |
| "This is hitting services, hurting patients, undermining staff morale and threatening the hard-won progress made over recent years." | "This is hitting services, hurting patients, undermining staff morale and threatening the hard-won progress made over recent years." |
| The RCN, which represents 400,000 nurses, published its report to kick start their annual conference in Harrogate. | The RCN, which represents 400,000 nurses, published its report to kick start their annual conference in Harrogate. |
| Posts | Posts |
| The study, compiled from reports by members and NHS board papers, said trusts had been forced to shed 22,300 posts through a combination of redundancies, recruitment freezes and post closures. | The study, compiled from reports by members and NHS board papers, said trusts had been forced to shed 22,300 posts through a combination of redundancies, recruitment freezes and post closures. |
| It said specialist nurses, which have been trained to provide expert care in areas such as diabetes and heart disease and have a range of enhanced powers like prescribing, had been particularly effected. | It said specialist nurses, which have been trained to provide expert care in areas such as diabetes and heart disease and have a range of enhanced powers like prescribing, had been particularly effected. |
| A poll of 807 specialist nurses found one in five were facing a risk of redundancy, while half were aware of cuts in their specialist area. | A poll of 807 specialist nurses found one in five were facing a risk of redundancy, while half were aware of cuts in their specialist area. |
| June James, who has been working as a specialist diabetes nurse for the last 12 years, said: "When I look at what is happening to my colleagues, it is upsetting. | June James, who has been working as a specialist diabetes nurse for the last 12 years, said: "When I look at what is happening to my colleagues, it is upsetting. |
| "Posts are being downgraded and services cut. I think it shows a lack of respect for the job we do." | "Posts are being downgraded and services cut. I think it shows a lack of respect for the job we do." |
| Liberal Democrat health spokesman Norman Lamb said: "This is a devastating report for the NHS at the beginning of the new financial year. | Liberal Democrat health spokesman Norman Lamb said: "This is a devastating report for the NHS at the beginning of the new financial year. |
| "Nurses are the backbone of the health service - it is terrible that they are suffering due to this government's failures." | "Nurses are the backbone of the health service - it is terrible that they are suffering due to this government's failures." |
| And shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley added: "We warned the government that their financial mismanagement would lead to job cuts and damage to services for patients. Unfortunately the RCN survey confirms our fears. | And shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley added: "We warned the government that their financial mismanagement would lead to job cuts and damage to services for patients. Unfortunately the RCN survey confirms our fears. |
| "It is a damning indictment of the cost of Gordon Brown's NHS cuts and Patricia Hewitt's poor stewardship." | "It is a damning indictment of the cost of Gordon Brown's NHS cuts and Patricia Hewitt's poor stewardship." |
| But health minister Andy Burnham said: "This RCN report presents an outdated and misleading picture. | But health minister Andy Burnham said: "This RCN report presents an outdated and misleading picture. |
| "We recognise it has been tough for NHS staff over the last twelve months, but we have now put the NHS on a sound financial footing for the future." | "We recognise it has been tough for NHS staff over the last twelve months, but we have now put the NHS on a sound financial footing for the future." |
| And he added the number of compulsory redundancies was below 1,500. | And he added the number of compulsory redundancies was below 1,500. |