Abstract

News Michael Day London jobcuts The NHS was last week engulfed in a political storm over spi- ralling debts and mounting job losses. In the space of seven days, hospital trusts announced that nearly 3000 jobs were to be axed, as the financial crisis deep- ened. By the beginning of this week health economists were predicting a total end of year deficit of £800m (€1.2bn; $1.4bn). One of the country’s leading teaching hospitals, the Royal Free in north London, announced that 480 jobs would go, while the axe will fall most heavily at the University Hospital of North Staffordshire, which is preparing to shed up to 1000 staff. Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt said that overall staff numbers were rising despite the cuts The opposition Conservative Party predicted that in total more than 20 000 NHS posts could be as many again in deficit Health unions were nervous work, meant his hospitals would were under threat. The shadow when we learn whether or not about the news of job losses. A go into the red if the job cuts did health secretary Andrew Lansley predicted savings this year have spokeswoman for the BMA not go ahead. said, “There is a