‘Spend on care, not jobs we don’t need’
A COUNTY councillor who has been fighting to save front-line health services in his community has slammed new ‘nonjobs’ at an NHS trust.
Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is in the process of employing five locality coordinators to “undertake community development work across Northumberland” on salaries of £23,023 to £29,608.
Each would represent a different local area council patch – Ashington/Blyth; Castle Morpeth; Cramlington/Bedlington/ Seaton Valley; North Northumberland; Tynedale – and would be based with a voluntary, community or social enterprise partner.
The job description says the aim is to “support the creation of stronger and more resilient communities” and identify areas where work is needed.
It comes after it was announced last week that staffing issues mean that the urgent care unit at Hexham General Hospital will remain closed between 10pm and 8am for an “indeterminate period”.
The inpatient ward at Rothbury Community Hospital has been closed for just under two years, with a final decision from the Health Secretary still being awaited.
The new roles are funded via the county council’s public health grant from the Government and this money could not be used for the likes of inpatient beds - but Rothbury councillor Steven Bridgett is nonetheless raising questions about the priorities for health spending in the county.
He railed against a government “that is continuing to slash the NHS budget and sell off parts of our NHS” and a clinical commissioning group and NHS trust locally who are “cutting front-line services” and “reducing community healthcare provision across Northumberland”.
He added: “Then we have Northumberland County Council, which with its central government-allocated budget for healthcare, chooses to waste £150,000 of that budget on the creation of non-jobs like locality coordinators, who, judging by their advertised job descriptions, will do very little to improve front-line healthcare provision in Northumberland.”
Liz Morgan, director of public health at Northumberland County Council, said: “Although these posts will be employed through Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, they are funded by Northumberland County Council with a central government allocation to local authorities to promote public health.
“Conditions of the grant would not allow it to fund inpatient beds such as those at Rothbury Community Hospital.
“The posts are a pillar of county-wide plans to develop and embed community-centred approaches to improving health and well-being, and reducing inequalities.
“The post-holders will work within local communities to support and promote initiatives which help to create wellness – encouraging people and groups to initiate activities that support their health and well-being.
“This is a nationally recognised approach to improving health and care.
“There is increasing evidence these alternative approaches not only represent a good return on investment but they will be vital in achieving sustainable health and care services for the future.”