VIDEO: Hospital staff in protest at £3.7m cuts plan

9:06am Thursday 25th January 2007

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PROTESTERS angry at proposed cuts in jobs and services gathered outside the Royal Bolton Hospital to demonstrate.

The protest was organised by the hospital's biggest staff union, Unison, and began outside Bolton's Trinity Street train station.

Commuters gave their full support to the union members who were fighting plans to reduce spending by £3.7 million as well as the possible loss of up to 130 jobs.

The staff then walked from the station to the main entrance of the Royal Bolton Hospital where scores of staff flooded out of the building to wave placards and banners.

Last week, regional health bosses at NHS North-west announced plans to move initial tests in ear, nose and throat, urology, gynaecology, general surgery and orthopaedics into independently run Clinical Assessment Treatment Services centres.

Hospital chiefs predict this will result in £3.7 million being axed from the Royal Bolton's yearly budget and the loss of up to 130 jobs.

Harry Hanley, branch secretary of Unison at the Royal Bolton Hospital, said: "It's a fantastic protest and I would say 95 per cent of people we stopped at the station were supportive of what we're trying to do.

"Most people were really shocked when we explained to them exactly what's happening. They can't believe this could happen to the NHS.

"Staff protesting aren't just concerned about jobs. They are probably more worried about the effect this will have on services that we provide to the people of Bolton."

Car and ambulance drivers honked their horns to show their support while members of the public were asked to sign a petition.

Gemma Hindley a physiotherapist at the hospital, said: "Many of our services are very specialised and it would be such a shame to lose them. People will have to go further afield just to be seen."

Her colleague Stephania Wychrij added: "Obviously we're concerned about the job losses, but we're equally, if not more, worried about the cuts to services and the effect this will have on the people of Bolton."Paul Somerville, who works for the Bolton, Salford and Trafford Mental Health Trust, said: "These cuts are disgraceful. Money needs to be pumped into the NHS to improve services, to provide more staff and more wards, not taken out of it."

And podiatrist, Neville Parker, said: "I'm concerned for patients who don't have cars. There's a great bus service to the hospital, but I think patients will have to travel much further, possibly even going past the hospital on their route to other hospitals for treatment. It seems crazy when we have specialist staff on site."