Union predicts thousands of job losses

Up to 6,000 jobs may be lost over the coming months as part of the final transitional stages of the new NHS structure, a leading union boss has predicted.

It’s believed that 400 jobs at the Birmingham, Solihull and Black Country PCT and a further 400 positions at Greater Manchester PCT will be the first axed.

Jon Restell, Chief Executive of Managers in Practice, said he was “expecting something big to happen” in the next three months due to the NHS still needing to “downsize”.

The wave of job cuts are as a result of CCGs, CSS and the NHSCB only now calculating how many employees they will be able to afford when they are fully authorised from next April.

The hundreds of jobs predicted to go in the Midlands and the North West have also been replicated in other parts of England. However, regions such as London reduced posts “harder and earlier” in the restructuring process, Restell said.

A reduction of 400 posts at the Birmingham, Solihull and Black Country PCT would result in a 30% reduction in staff. However, it’s expected that those who will lose their jobs will take on new roles in the local CSSs, council public health teams, Public Health England and other bodies formed after the reforms.