Union hits out at health job cuts

RCN says staffing losses 'will be felt'

Offering health workers voluntary redundancies will impact upon patient care, a trade union has warned.

The Royal College of Nursing has raised concerns after a number of senior staff accepted payouts under government's Mutually Agreed Resignation Scheme (MARS).

One of them was the Island's Chief Nurse, which health bosses have previously described a 'representative' or 'spokesperson' role.

Though the Department of Health and Social Care has refused to comment on individual cases, it's insisted only management, and not frontline jobs, will be axed as MARS progresses.

A freeze on 'non-essential' staff appointments announced last November is still in place.

But RCN Regional Director Estephanie Dunn says any staffing losses in nursing will be felt.