Health chiefs under fire for wasting scarce funds (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Health chiefs under fire for wasting scarce funds

CASH strapped Kennet, North and West Wiltshire Primary Care Trusts, which are planning to close community hospitals, have produced a glossy leaflet for their 2,700 employees encouraging them to think about changing jobs.

The flyer, produced in colour, was put in every employee's pay packet just a few days after West Wiltshire PCT's board agreed to close Bradford-on-Avon Hospital and reduce most of the services at Westbury Hospital.

The flyer features a woman in a swimming pool with the word Emerge written above her.

Part of the message on the flyer states: "You're part of a pool of talent that can make all the difference to our future. As the PCTs go through a period of dramatic change, we're looking for people to emerge from that talent pool and develop in a number of exciting roles.

"Whatever job you do now, there's the opportunity for you to try something different in an environment you're comfortable in. You don't need qualifications, just a willingness to learn and adapt to a fresh challenge."

An employee of Kennet and North Wiltshire PCT sent in the flyer to the Gazette with the message: "At a time when we are all urged to make savings in the PCT was it really necessary to give us all this glossy handout?"

Roger Davey, spokesman for the health union Unison in Wiltshire and who as an employee of the PCT received the flyer, said: "It's a complete and utter waste of money.

"I will be amazed if the PCTs get one response. It was met with derision and staff threw it in the bin.

"Staff want to keep their jobs in the NHS and continue to provide high quality care but the NHS is trying to force people out of their jobs so it will save on redundancy costs."

Mr Davey said Unison estimated that 140 people were at risk of losing their jobs with the closure of Bradford-on-Avon Hospital and the loss of services at Westbury Hospital.

But he also thought Melksham, Warminster and Trowbridge hospitals were all at risk, which could result in 300 redundancies.

In a statement Carol Clarke, chief executive of the PCTs, said the leaflet had been planned months ago, the aim being to establish a talent pool of employees.

She said a small number of staff have complained about the flyer coming so soon after the decision about Bradford and Westbury hospitals.

She said: "Whilst the initiative was the culmination of several months worth of discussions, and we have had many expressions of interest, I do nonetheless understand that the timing of its issue may have upset some staff and this is clearly regrettable, as this was not our aim."

Mrs Clarke did not say how much the leaflets cost to produce.

nPeople in Wiltshire can help shape the Government's White Paper on improving community health and care services. The Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire Strategic Health Authority is organising several events as part of its commitment to listening to the public, patients and staff about what they think of the NHS.

Part of the national Your Health, Your Care, Your Say the public consultation process aims to involve the public and staff,and those who often don't get the chance to have their say on NHS services.

"We want to listen to the people whose voices are not always heard." said Trevor Jones, chief executive of the Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire Strategic Health Authority.

The findings of the local events will feed into a national event to be held in Birmingham on October 29.

The Health Authority is organising events across Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire in Bristol, Cheltenham and Tewkesbury and Swindon. Dates and venues will be confirmed shortly.