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£1.4bn of NHS money wasted on redundancy payoffs, says Labour £1.4bn of NHS money wasted on redundancy payoffs, says Labour
(25 days later)
Labour has accused ministers of wasting £1.4bn of NHS funding on 32,000 redundancy payoffs over the past three years.Labour has accused ministers of wasting £1.4bn of NHS funding on 32,000 redundancy payoffs over the past three years.
More than 950 health workers received six-figure exit deals last year, up from about 620 in 2011-12, and 160 received more than £200,000, according to the annual Department of Health (DH) accounts.More than 950 health workers received six-figure exit deals last year, up from about 620 in 2011-12, and 160 received more than £200,000, according to the annual Department of Health (DH) accounts.
The shadow health secretary, Andy Burnham, said the "true cost" of the coalition's health service shakeup was becoming clear. The figures suggested that the final bill for the reorganisation would be far higher than the government had predicted, he said.The shadow health secretary, Andy Burnham, said the "true cost" of the coalition's health service shakeup was becoming clear. The figures suggested that the final bill for the reorganisation would be far higher than the government had predicted, he said.
"At a time when the NHS needs every penny it can get, we have a prime minister handing out gold-plated, six-figure payoffs to thousands of managers and P45s to thousands of nurses," Burnham said."At a time when the NHS needs every penny it can get, we have a prime minister handing out gold-plated, six-figure payoffs to thousands of managers and P45s to thousands of nurses," Burnham said.
"Billions have been siphoned out of the NHS frontline to pay for an unnecessary reorganisation no one voted for and David Cameron personally promised would not happen. It is a colossal waste of money."Billions have been siphoned out of the NHS frontline to pay for an unnecessary reorganisation no one voted for and David Cameron personally promised would not happen. It is a colossal waste of money.
"The money he has wasted on payouts for managers could instead have prevented the thousands of nurse redundancies we have seen on this prime minister's watch. It will be galling for any nurses who have lost their jobs to see the sickening scale of these payouts.""The money he has wasted on payouts for managers could instead have prevented the thousands of nurse redundancies we have seen on this prime minister's watch. It will be galling for any nurses who have lost their jobs to see the sickening scale of these payouts."
A DH spokesperson said: "Last year we started changes that put doctors and nurses in the driving seat as they are best placed to take decisions about care for their patients.A DH spokesperson said: "Last year we started changes that put doctors and nurses in the driving seat as they are best placed to take decisions about care for their patients.
"The changes made as a result of the reforms mean a huge net gain for the taxpayer. They will save £5.5bn during this parliament and £1.5bn every year thereafter, to be reinvested back into patient care.""The changes made as a result of the reforms mean a huge net gain for the taxpayer. They will save £5.5bn during this parliament and £1.5bn every year thereafter, to be reinvested back into patient care."
Jon Skewes, director of the Royal College of Midwives, said: "The unnecessary top-down reorganisation has cost the NHS and taxpayer dear.Jon Skewes, director of the Royal College of Midwives, said: "The unnecessary top-down reorganisation has cost the NHS and taxpayer dear.
"Billions of pounds have gone to top managers to leave and often to be re-employed or used as consultants. This money, if invested in more midwives, could have solved the midwife shortage for years to come. Instead, we know that on current trends it will last to at least 2026.""Billions of pounds have gone to top managers to leave and often to be re-employed or used as consultants. This money, if invested in more midwives, could have solved the midwife shortage for years to come. Instead, we know that on current trends it will last to at least 2026."
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