Health board looking at axing jobs 2/2/10
Jobs are feared to be axed at Western Isles NHS as the body tackles a massive £ 3 million debt.
The body faces cuts to try and pay back a loan granted by the Scottish Government to clear huge losses run up after a past history of haemorrhaging massive amounts of cash.
The health board said it is looking at a number of fixed term posts as employees come to the end of contract.
The body indicated some of these jobs may be “discontinued.”
A health board statement read: “Any job changes that are occurring in the foreseeable future are either as a result of natural turnover or the conclusion of fixed term contract appointments.”
It said this was “a natural part of how the NHS in Scotland operates.”
It added: “Fixed term contracts that are coming to an end are looked at individually and where possible may be absorbed through appropriate vacancies, or discontinued.”
It is understood bosses held a seminar behind closed doors late last week where the proposals were aired.
The forum was not a formal board meeting but held in private where senior executives apparently discussed the ongoing strategy to try and meet the Scottish Government’s 2013 deadline to return the borrowings.
At its annual review in Autumn, Scottish health minister Nicola Sturgeon was told it planned more cutbacks and savings in an effort to balance its books this year on top of trying to close a £2.9 million funding gap by the end of March.
The board said it currently “continues to experience in-
Meanwhile, a board spokesperson insisted there would not be a “reduction in roles by restructuring the Community Health and Social Care Partnership. Instead a “change in responsibilities of certain roles” is intended.
This has come “under review due to the recent retirement of a senior member of staff and other vacancies.” Unions and staff are being briefed on the changes.