UNION bosses at the Royal Bolton Hospital have met with MP Brian Iddon in a bid to gain his support for their opposition to job cuts.

Senior Unison members at the hospital met the Bolton South-east MP after announcing they were prepared to ballot for industrial action over plans by hospital chiefs to make £8 million worth of cuts.

But while Dr Iddon said he was sympathetic to their concerns, he made it clear he backed the hospital management plans to push ahead with the savings.

He said: "We had a really good meeting and there was a lot of straight talking on both sides. I listened to their views and explained that the Government is trying to move treatment into the community so people don't need to go to hospital, and that the NHS Primary Care Trusts are taking on more responsibility.

"The unions are co-operating with management, but with greater efficiency in the use of beds and shorter waiting times there isn't the need for as many staff. I have been assured by hospital management that the job losses will be met through natural wastage."

Last week, 22 union stewards working at the hospital held a crisis meeting and voted unanimously to ballot their members if they considered it necessary. If members support action, it could lead to a strike.

Damian Isherwood, communications officer for the Bolton branch of UNISON, said: "Dr Iddon listened to the views of senior Unison representatives on a wide range of issues with considerable interest and concern and it is hoped he will come back to us on these.

"Unison is pleased with his concern and we are arranging to meet with the two other local MPs, Ruth Kelly and David Crausby, so that we may discuss the same concerns."

Earlier this month, the hospital trust board rubber-stamped plans to axe 130 jobs about 80 of them nursing staff and scrap 68 beds, including a gastroenterology ward, which treats alcoholics, in order to make the savings.

Hospital management insist the moves are necessary so £12.8 million can be invested into pay rises, new drugs and equipment.

In conjunction with Bolton Primary Care Trust, they want to reduce the number of admissions by 15 every day through care in the community. Cash for a winter ward is also being made available.

Dr Iddon has promised to approach hospital management to discuss staff concerns over the security in hospital car parks.