Plans reveal health boards to shed jobs

TWO major health boards are planning to cut jobs, according to plans submitted to the Scottish Government.

NHS Lanarkshire and NHS Lothian intend to reduce staff by a combined total of 115 posts this financial year.

The cuts in NHS Lothian are described as reflecting “local financial viability” and include the loss of 11 nurses and midwives.

In Lanarkshire, the health board has not determined which groups of staff will be affected, but the staff losses are said to be a result of “service redesign and cash releasing programmes”.

NHS 24, the health service helpline, is also planning to shed 50 jobs.

As other health boards are recruiting staff, the overall NHS workforce in Scotland will increase. Almost 100 more medical staff and more efficiency than 400 extra nursing staff are to be sought.

Health Secretary Shona Robison said: “Today’s figures show that to give people the high quality health care they deserve, we are investing in and supporting a highly skilled NHS Scotland workforce.” IT is The Herald’s policy to correct errors as soon as we can and all corrections and clarifications will usually appear on this page.

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