450 jobs to go at Royal Free in £40m shake-up (From Times Series)

Royal Free Hospital to shed 450 jobs in bid to save £40m this year

10:31am Wednesday 6th April 2011 in News By Alex Hayes

AROUND 450 jobs are to go at the Royal Free Hospital as trust bosses look to save around £40m from this year’s budget.

So far 280 posts have been identified for removal, including 16 doctors and 107 nursing staff, as well as 23 therapists, with 107 non-clinical jobs also set to be axed, of the 5,500 employees.

Some of the positions are already vacant, or occupied by agency staff or people who are set to retire soon, say Trust managers.

Of the other 170 posts under review bosses hope to make the savings by natural wastage, with staff leaving and retiring.

A further £5m will be saved by reducing the number of agency staff employed by the Trust, which is aiming for foundation status this year giving it more autonomy on its finances.

Some backroom functions will also be merged in the shake-up.

David Sloman, the trust’s chief executive, said: “The Royal Free is not immune to the financial pressures facing the NHS.

“All hospitals are being asked to contribute to the 20 per cent productivity improvement needed by the NHS.

“I have personally briefed colleagues across the trust to set out the scale of the challenges that we face.

“Clearly it is going to be difficult, but by working together I am confident that we can achieve our savings while continuing to provide excellent standards of care.”

NHS north central London needs to save £153.5m this year.