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Royal Cornwall Hospital could shed 700 jobs Royal Cornwall Hospital could shed 700 jobs
(about 4 hours later)
More than 700 jobs at the Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust (RCHT) could be cut over the next five years.More than 700 jobs at the Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust (RCHT) could be cut over the next five years.
The trust said a "need for greater efficiency" was behind the plans which would help save £50m from its £309m budget over the next five years.The trust said a "need for greater efficiency" was behind the plans which would help save £50m from its £309m budget over the next five years.
The "Our People" report to the board on Thursday has been condemned by health campaigners.The "Our People" report to the board on Thursday has been condemned by health campaigners.
But the report says that "simply doing more of what we have always done is no longer an option".But the report says that "simply doing more of what we have always done is no longer an option".
There are two principal reasons behind the need for Royal Cornwall's workforce to adapt and contract.
One is the changing face of healthcare.
We are spending less and less time in our big general hospitals, as we get more of our care closer to where we live. Increasingly, we will be looked after in community hospitals, by GP practices or even at home, via "telehealth" monitoring.
The other pressing reason is that the NHS is being squeezed as never before.
While there's an escalation in both demand for health services and costs, there's no extra cash to pay for this.
So hospitals like the Royal Cornwall have to become leaner and more streamlined, to use technology to do more administrative work, and give some of the jobs traditionally done by the most expensive staff - doctors and nurses - to non- clinical workers.
The report suggests a number of cost-saving measures, including a cut of 772 in the trust's workforce to 3,907.The report suggests a number of cost-saving measures, including a cut of 772 in the trust's workforce to 3,907.
'Devastating news''Devastating news'
Graham Webster of campaign group Health Initiative Cornwall said: "This must be devastating news for staff.Graham Webster of campaign group Health Initiative Cornwall said: "This must be devastating news for staff.
"These are really good staff that work extremely hard under a lot of pressure so I am really disappointed for them.""These are really good staff that work extremely hard under a lot of pressure so I am really disappointed for them."
An RCHT spokesman said the savings were a response to government health reforms, including GP-led commissioning - the buying and planning of services on a local level.An RCHT spokesman said the savings were a response to government health reforms, including GP-led commissioning - the buying and planning of services on a local level.
He continued: "We need to plan for new treatments, new technology and care delivered in different settings - with a greater emphasis on integration and partnership with other organisations."He continued: "We need to plan for new treatments, new technology and care delivered in different settings - with a greater emphasis on integration and partnership with other organisations."
The report says the trust wants to give non-medical staff extra training to become "assistant practitioners", carrying out roles traditionally done by medical staff.The report says the trust wants to give non-medical staff extra training to become "assistant practitioners", carrying out roles traditionally done by medical staff.
According to the NHS website, examples of assistant practitioner level roles include occupational therapy assistant, diabetes team assistant and primary care worker in mental health.According to the NHS website, examples of assistant practitioner level roles include occupational therapy assistant, diabetes team assistant and primary care worker in mental health.
RCHT medical director Paul Upton said: "We are not talking about service cuts, we are looking at 700 people-less working for the RCHT potentially in the future.RCHT medical director Paul Upton said: "We are not talking about service cuts, we are looking at 700 people-less working for the RCHT potentially in the future.
"But there's well established ways of moving people to different organisations as services change."But there's well established ways of moving people to different organisations as services change.
"We are talking about jobs being delivered in a different way.""We are talking about jobs being delivered in a different way."