UP to 500 jobs could be axed under proposals being considered by the North and East Herts NHS Primary Care Trust. The trust is looking to save £18 million and is reviewing the number of hospital beds it needs as it improves clinical efficiency. Three war
UP to 500 jobs could be axed under proposals being considered by the North and East Herts NHS Primary Care Trust.
The trust is looking to save £18 million and is reviewing the number of hospital beds it needs as it improves clinical efficiency.
Three wards at the Lister hospital in Stevenage could be closed as part of the cuts proposals.
Unison spokesman Geoff Reason has described the proposals as "devastating". He said: "A lot of people will be angry about this annoucement.
Trust chief executive Nick Carver said: "Developments within the local health service in recent weeks mean that the level of cost reduction that the trust has to make this year has all but doubled to £18 million.
"While that is out of an overall budget of £267 million, the trust is already pursuing a highly challenging programme of clinical and non-clinical efficency saving activities."
The cuts proposals will be discussed at a meeting of the trust's board at the end of next month.
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