NHS Lothian to axe 700 jobs

Published on Friday 21 May 2010 16:13

A health board today announced plans to axe around 700 jobs this year. NHS Lothian said the measure is part of a £31 million cuts drive for 2010-11.

No compulsory redundancies will be made, although the organisation said it wants to reduce the number of agency and bank staff it uses.

Susan Goldsmith, director of finance at the trust, said: "Due to the financial challenges which we are all facing, NHS Lothian is looking at ways to increase our productivity and efficiency, while continuing to deliver high standards of patient care."

The Tory-Liberal Democrat Government at Westminster is publishing an emergency Budget next month, which is expected to include measures to cut 6 billion from public spending this year.

The health trust's cuts plan will be put before board members next week.

NHS Lothian has previously said it will axe around 2,000 workers during this financial year and the next.