New threat to NHS jobs

CHALLENGING TIMES: Shauna Dixon

MORE jobs are under threat at NHS Oldham as it seeks ways to save up to £13.5 million this financial year.

The trust, which runs health services in the borough, saved £18million last year through measures including cutting management costs, changing service contracts and closing the overnight drop-in service at the walk-in centre.

Now the trust, which must save a further £13.5million to balance the books, has said redundancies are inevitable as it prepares to make “tough and unpopular” decisions, according to chief executive Shauna Dixon. Plans to save money include:

::Cutting staff, reducing running costs and disposing of surplus NHS Oldham buildings to save £1.4m

::Saving £6m by ensuring that patients needing operations meet strict clinical criteria

::Saving £3.5m by working together with Oldham Council to create care packages for people with long-term health and social care problems.

::Saving £3.5m by setting up a new service to help people who need intermediate care to stay out of hospital and get back home.

::Reducing costs of prescriptions by £2m. n Asking organisations such as care homes to absorb reduced funding.

::Reviewing all contracts.

::Working with GPs to watch for every penny spent.

Shauna Dixon, chief executive, said the trust was committed to reducing costs safely and ensuring Oldham retained high quality health services. But it also needed the public, patients and staff to use NHS services wisely.

She said: “These are very challenging times. The NHS has to make itself as efficient and productive as possible, while never forgetting that what we’re here to do is improve the health of the people of Oldham. We spend more than £420m each year looking after the health of the people of Oldham.

“Last year we had to make some very difficult decisions and weill have to make more tough choices to deliver the £13.5m savings we need to find this year.”