Extra info call over £306m health cuts

More than 1,000 jobs to be lost under NHS proposals

- Phil Corrigan Local Democracy Reporter

COUNCILLORS are demanding further information about £306 million of NHS cuts which will see 1,100 jobs slashed.

Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Integrated Care Board (ICB) has approved an operational plan for 2025/26 involving an 8.2 per cent reduction in its budget, to meet nationally-set savings targets.

Members of the health and care overview and scrutiny committee at Staffordshire County Council had a second chance to question ICB officials on the plans, after requesting further details last month. But the councillors said they still did not have enough information to properly scrutinise the proposals and understand how they will affect Staffordshire residents.

The plan will involve changes to services such as continuing healthcare and mental health services, along with back office efficiency savings. There is a planned staffing reduction of 1,098 whole time equivalent positions, with about half of these bank and agency workers.

ICB leaders insist the quality of care will be maintained and could improve as a result of some changes. But scrutiny committee chair Antonia Orlandi-Fantini said the ICB had failed to provide a detailed breakdown of the savings proposals and an accompanying risk assessment, which had been requested at the previous meeting.