Protest in Brighton over hospital cuts

A union is staging a demonstration against a hospital trust’s plans to make cuts of around £30 million.

The GMB has organised the protest in alliance with Defend the NHS Brighton, which is campaigning to protect NHS services in the county.

The move comes after new Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust chief executive Matthew Kershaw, pictured, said redundancies could not be ruled out as the trust tried to find ways to make the necessary savings.

Mr Kershaw told The Argus earlier this week that while it was unlikely that staffing would not be affected, the trust hoped to save millions through other methods, such as turning off lights and computers when not in use.

The GMB has warned it will take all necessary measures, including balloting union members for industrial action, in response to any cuts made or job losses.

The demonstration will take place outside Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton on April 6 at 11am.

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Comments(5)

sound_man says...
11:56am Thu 21 Mar 13

Jeremy hunt is at Worthing hospital today. Why don't they protest there?

HJarrs says...
12:10pm Thu 21 Mar 13

The Tories are an absolute disgrace. Having said the NHS was safe in their hands and that there would be no major reorganisation they threw themselves into the run down of the NHS and privatisation of services.

It cannot be coincidence that there are so many stories in the media trying to undermine confidence in the NHS. The poor performance of private providers or that many GP health purchasing bodies have vested interests in providing private care are almost totally ignored.

Rather than sort out the problems, there is clearly there is a campaign by the Tories to undermine the NHS.

whereisthe...? says...
12:41pm Thu 21 Mar 13

Good on them for doing something!

clubrob6 says...
12:58pm Thu 21 Mar 13

sound_man wrote:
Jeremy hunt is at Worthing hospital today. Why don't they protest there?
Frontline services have already been cut in Worthing,the woman in charge has just about closed down southlands hospital,there are no more inpatients,most services have been moved to Worthing or just stopped like sexual health services leaving a large area without a clinic,i had a scan at southlands and because the dept was only one left in that part of the hospital all heating was off.Services are no longer at the same level they have simply been cut to save money.The sexual health services were due to be taken over by virgin care but they have no pulled out so now services are fragmented ,virgin care did not want non profit side of HIV care basically Worthing hospital is quietly getting privatised while shutting southlands down.This is why jermany hunt is there today as the concervatives are privatising the NHS hoping we don't notice to its too late.Frontline care is very poor not because of poor nurses ETC but because of poor staffing levels,when I was recently at sexual health clinic,the nurse on reception desk was doing everything booking people in,doing blood tests ETC in other words the clinic has done away with the receptionist to save money at the central clinic.How can nurses do the job with care when they are expected to do everything including answering the phone for appointments.

getThisCoalitionOut says...
4:37pm Thu 21 Mar 13

Mathew Kershaw should take a pay cut and all of the highest paid in the NHS, then all the essential staff could be kept.

More staff are needed, not less.

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