This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/health/6552249.stm

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Nurse union attacks NHS job cuts Nurse union attacks NHS job cuts
(about 2 hours later)
Nurses' leaders say patients are being harmed by job cuts in the profession caused by continuing NHS deficits.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 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The government says the union's figures are out of date and misleading. It adds that the number of compulsory redundancies has been very small.The government says the union's figures are out of date and misleading.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. In its report Our NHS - Today and Tomorrow, the union said the health service was facing a debt crisis that was "real and entrenched".
The RCN 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 financial crisis was also hitting patient care, the study claimed.
Surplus predicted
According to the latest government figures, the NHS will have a small surplus overall for the financial year just finished.
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.
This is despite one in three hospitals and primary care trusts predicting deficits.
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 DemsNurses 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. RCN general secretary Dr Peter Carter said he stood by the RCN's figures.
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. "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. Howard Catton, head of policy at the RCN, told BBC Five Live that the union's figures had been calculated by "monitoring the loss of posts for the last eighteen months".
Posts "It's comprised of posts which have been deleted, vacancies that haven't been filled and some redundancies as well," he added.
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. 'Service cuts'
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. The RCN claims 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 for the report 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. We recognise it has been tough for NHS staff over the last 12 months, but we have now put the NHS on a sound financial footing for the future Health minister Andy Burnham
"Posts are being downgraded and services cut. I think it shows a lack of respect for the job we do." June James, who has been working as a specialist diabetes nurse for the last 12 years, said: "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 described the report as "devastating" for the NHS.
"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," he said.
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 said it confirmed the Conservative Party's fears that "financial mismanagement would lead to job cuts and damage to services for patients".
"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," he added.
But health minister Andy Burnham said: "This RCN report presents an outdated and misleading picture. 'Improvements'
"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." But health minister Andy Burnham dismissed the RCN figures.
And he added the number of compulsory redundancies was below 1,500. "This RCN report presents an outdated and misleading picture," he said.
"We recognise it has been tough for NHS staff over the last 12 months, but we have now put the NHS on a sound financial footing for the future."
The Department of Health said the figures being used by the RCN related to the "natural turnover of staff" experienced in any organisation - including posts not being refilled after staff leave, and agency staff not being replaced.
It said the actual number of compulsory redundancies was 1,446 of which only 303 were clinical positions, such as doctors or nurses.
Mr Burnham later told BBC Five Live, the NHS was "performing for patients better than ever before".
"The waiting lists are at an historic low. A&E care is better than it has ever been.
"People generally do not wait longer than four hours, whereas trolley waits and long, long, days spent at A&E were commonplace in the past."
The RCN, which represents 400,000 nurses, published its report to kick start its annual conference in Harrogate.