NHS job cuts to save £32.5m

NHS bosses in the North East are set to begin a voluntary redundancy scheme as part of huge changes which will see headcounts drop dramatically.

- SAM VOLPE Reporter [e-mail]

This comes after the Government confirmed a deal with NHS England that will see Integrated Care Boards (ICB) able to use funds from next year's budgets to cover the costs of making staff redundant.

Earlier in the year, ICBs including the North East and North Cumbria organisation said they would not move forward with plans until funding arrangements were made clear. The organisations have been asked to make dramatic savings as part of a move to a "focus on strategic commissioning".

This comes as the Government seeks to reverse a "doubling in the size of the centre" that has seen the number of people employed in bureaucratic roles in the NHS rise since a 2012 re-organisation of the service led by the then government.

Last week, Health Secretary Wes Streeting told the NHS Providers' organisation that the government was "slashing bureaucracy" in order to divert cash towards frontline care.

He said: "The government is protecting investment in the NHS at the Budget, worth an extra £29 billion to the health service. I want to reassure taxpayers that every penny they are being asked to pay will be spent wisely.