GP positive about cuts

CUTTING jobs across NHS Lothian may provide some benefits for the organisation, a former city GP has said.

By The Newsroom

Published 9th Jun 2010, 11:00 BST

Updated 9th Jun 2010, 12:23 BST

SNP MSP Dr Ian McKee – a Wester Hailes doctor before entering Holyrood – suggested some areas were overstaffed.

NHS Lothian plans to remove 700 posts this year, with a further 1,300 to go in 2011 in a bid to fill a 70 million black hole.

He said: "Nursing and midwifery staff have increased consistently in NHS Lothian over the past three years. Overstaffing is counter-productive and does nothing for patients."