Posted 03 May 2018 - 13:58
Posted 03 May 2018 - 13:58
News
Budget cut threatens 37 school nurse and health visitor jobs in Staffordshire
The cut will leave our children and families vulnerable, says union Unite
The cut will leave our children and families vulnerable, says union Unite
Almost 40 school nurses and health visitors could lose their jobs in Staffordshire because of a county council budget cut.
The union Unite said the 37 potential job losses were due to Staffordshire County Council’s £2.5 million budget cut in its children and young people’s health and well-being programme.
Unite's regional officer for the West Midlands Frank Keogh said a previous budget cut had already led to the closure of some clinics and children’s centres in Staffordshire.
He added that the next round of cuts are to the ‘already much reduced’ budget for the care of newborns to 19-year-olds.
‘This second financial hit will further reduce the numbers of health visitors and school nurses, and will therefore leave our children and families vulnerable,’ he said.
‘Our health visitors and school nurses believe Staffordshire children deserve better than this.’
Review of staffing and resources
The nurses and health visitors whose jobs are at risk are employed by Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Partnership NHS Trust, which delivers the 0-19 years programme on behalf of the county council.
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The trust’s director of workforce and development Julie Tanner said a review of staff numbers to fit with the new budget was under way.
‘Staff are in a 30-day consultation period, which trade union colleagues have been informed of and are engaged in,’ she said.
Ms Tanner said the trust was supporting staff through the process and would help them find redeployment opportunities in Staffordshire, where necessary.
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