Theatre shake up at Wirral hospitals could see 10 job losses

Dec 7 2011 by Liza Williams, Birkenhead News

SURGERY at two Wirral hospitals is set to be reorganised as part of a plan to save up to £330,000.

Operating theatre departments at Arrowe Park and Clatterbridge Hospitals would merge under the proposal.

But staff are angry about the idea, which could see up to 10 job losses.

Under the plan, both hospitals would keep their own theatres, but staff would work across the sites and shift patterns merged.

One worker said: “There are no management posts going and we are going to be left with more work with the staff reductions. Some people will be downgraded.

“it is just yet another blow in terms of staff morale.”

NHS bosses said the restructure was needed to make services more flexible. A spokeswoman added it was hoped staff numbers could be reduced through “natural wastage”, not compulsory redundancy.

Staff are being offered voluntary severance.

The plan does not affect Clatterbridge Centre for Oncology, which is a separate trust.