NHS reorganisation could cost 80 jobs

NEXT year’s reorganisation of the NHS, which could see services in Exmouth and Budleigh Salterton run from Barnstaple, could lead to up to 80 support staff losing their jobs across East Devon.

Backroom and support staff have been told their jobs could be at risk when East Devon services are taken over by Northern Devon Healthcare Trust (NDHT) for the next two years.

But health chiefs have denied redundancy notices have been sent out or that numbers of frontline staff or community hospital staff could be cut.

However, they admit some ‘support’ staff have been put on notice that their jobs ‘may be’ at risk.

By April 1, 2011, NHS services previously administered by Devon Primary Care Trust will be placed into the hands Northern Devon Healthcare Trust (NDHT) for at least two years.

The move, rubber-stamped in October, is a stop-gap measure, part of the Coalition Government’s Transforming Community Services (TCS) agenda to dissolve Devon PCT and devolve the provision of care into the hands of local GPs.

A spokesman for NHS Devon said: “No redundancy notices have been sent to our staff.

“A group of people who provide support functions have received a letter, explaining their post may be potentially at risk, and the majority have already been offered alternative positions within the local NHS.

“We are working hard to identify suitable roles for the remainder. No frontline staff in community hospitals are affected.”