16.03.1995

Cost cutting in Dundee hospitals

DR FOWLIE of Dundee Healthcare NHS Trust announced savings of £750,000 from his £85 million budget.

The trust claims that £270,000 can be saved through better management of staff turnover - without reducing the numbers employed. The good doctor said there were bound to be gaps between staff leaving and others being appointed. Obviously staff will have to carry an extra workload while their employers manipulate their appointments policy to save money.

The trust is developing what it calls “a long term reward system” with employment consultants Negotiate Ltd. It sounds like the most amount of work for the least amount of pay.

A joint negotiating committee covering the hospital unions has been set up with management. The bosses will try to use negotiations to undermine national agreements and try and exploit inter-union differences. Why else employ consultants?