Streeting 'too slow' over cuts

HEALTH SECRETARY'S ADMISSION ON 'UNCOMFORTABLE' REDUNDANCY DELAYS

- By HELENA VESTY

THE health secretary has admitted that 'uncomfortable' redundancy delays are 'on me,' after effectively 1,600 Greater Manchester NHS staff were left in limbo for months.

Wes Streeting announced at the annual NHS Providers Conference, held in Manchester, that 'funding arrangements have been agreed with HM Treasury'.

The settlement has now been reached for the '50 per cent reduction in headcount' demanded by the government across the Department of Health and NHS England, the NHS's governing body. The cuts also extend to integrated care boards, which plan and pay for the care in the various regions of the country.

The M.E.N. has previously reported how around 600 NHS employees in the region who work for Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board could be facing redundancy.

But months after announcing the reforms, national health bosses would 'not approve' a government-backed redundancy scheme needed for the huge savings ordered by Westminster.