THE NHS in Sheffield faces huge cost-cutting measures. Over £100
million has already been announced in cuts over the next three years.
About 10% of this is based at the Sheffield Children’s NHS trust.
Jon Smith GMB branch secretary, Sheffield Children’s
hospital
Yes that’s right, government cuts are now affecting our children’s
services. Our trust in Sheffield is not, as the government says, a ‘bad
trust’ or an ‘underperforming trust’ – we finished last year with a £1.4
million surplus.
So why did we start this year with plans to cut £3.5 million? And £9
million over the next three years? This is due to New Labour’s
"efficiency savings" and internal market Payment by Results policy.
This in reality means cuts to services and jobs. We’re constantly
being told that the trust has to ‘realign its services’ or ‘reorganise’
but these words can be simply replaced with cuts, cuts, cuts!
Already we’re seeing experienced roles being replaced with newly
qualified staff on lowly grades. There are already plans to close wards,
like S2 the Ear, Nose and Throat ward, and already some jobs are not
being replaced at all. This has got to stop.
Union reps are calling for a local march and rally in Sheffield, both
to unite the people of Yorkshire and for us to start and win back our
NHS. Please support us in this event on Saturday 9 September, assemble
10am Weston Park, Sheffield.
