Unions today warned hospital managers not to assume job losses were an inevitable way to save money.

Senior members of the GMB union met at a regional meeting to discuss their response to the job cuts sweeping the NHS.

Brighton GMB official Charles Harrity said they were investigating what to do next.

Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust has announced it is cutting 325 posts as part of plans to get out of financial trouble.

There are up to 800 GMB members working at the trust's hospitals, which include the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton and the Princess Royal in Haywards Heath.

Mr Harrity said: "We do not believe job losses are inevitable as part of the savings plans and they are not acceptable.

"It is the easy option in many respects and is a knee-jerk reaction. This has been a long time coming and the picture is more complex than that. We will be discussing with members what our next moves will be."