United Voice News
Over 500 full time hospital jobs to be removed
At today’s Public Expenditure Committee hearing into the government’s 3% budget cutbacks, the director general of the Health Department, Peter Flett, tabled a document that outlined that more than 500 full time health jobs will be cut this year.
The cuts are only the first step to the 3% reduction, and LHMU secretary Dave Kelly said greater cuts can be expected over the coming years.
“Cutbacks in the health service by previous Liberal governments have always proved to be detrimental to the overall health service.
“Staff numbers cannot be reduced in a sector that is already struggling without the entire service being affected – including front line services.
“When asked to define what a ‘front line position’ in his service is, Mr Flett could not. So his claim that no front line services will be affected is nothing but media spin.
“These cuts will also have consequences for remaining staff who will have their workloads increased.
“Support staff and nurses are already over-stretched and cannot be expected to pick up extra duties.
“In the past, such cuts in hospitals have lead over-stretched staff which has resulted in serious problems with infection control.”
