Despite Everything Trust Implements Massive Cuts!

Mental health trust axes 39 jobs despite fears for service

ALICE MCKEEGAN.

MANCHESTER Mental Health and Social Care Trust has announced plans to cut 39 posts, ‘ Including some frontline roles.

As revealed In the MEN earlier this year, bosses were consulting on the proposals to axe the community positions and now the board has confirmed it intends to press ahead with the plans.

It is understood that compulsory redundancies are unlike1y and chiefs hope that they w1ll be able to reduce
the workforce by not replacing staff when they retire or leave the trust.

But members of the UNISON branch said managers had ignored staff and patient concerns about the possible impact of the cuts on frontline care and said they were ‘seriously worried’.

A spokesman said they couldn’t rule out Industrial action and they w1ll hold meetings next week to discuss their next step.
Caroline Ridgway, co-branch secretary. said: “The board and management of Manchester Mental Health
and Social Care Trust have been made fully aware of the concerns of the staff.

“They are also further insulting staff by announcing these cuts during their own staff appreciation week”

More than 80 people attended a public meeting earlier this week where people spoke of their fears that the cuts could have an adverse effect on their lives.

A spokesman for the rust said: “This reorganisation will make services easier to access as we will be matching the distribution of our resources to varying need, rather than continuing with a ‘one size fits all approach to community services.

“The trust has pledged to try to mlnimise the Impact on staff.

CREDIT: ALICE MCKEEGAN Manchester Evening News only in print edition Friday 28 TH September, 2012.


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