Dewsbury and District Hospital staff could strike

In July, the Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust announced plans to cut £55m over two years.

It planned to radically overhaul staffing across its sites in Dewsbury, Wakefield and Pontefract, with 500 jobs “changing or disappearing” through re-grading, natural waste and redundancies.

This week, after a four-month consultation, the Trust has told 150 members of staff that their current posts are at risk.

Chief executive Julia Squire said the Trust intended to avoid compulsory redundancies.

But Adrian O’Malley, chairman of Unison’s Mid Yorkshire Health branch, said his members were worried.

The union is already in dispute with management over changes to terms and conditions of staff contracts.

Mr O’Malley said: “We knew it was coming, but we didn’t know how many vacancies the Trust had so didn’t know how many redundancies to expect.

“We are not accepting the changes, or any compulsory redundancies.

“We are balloting members on what they want us to do next and we will be recommending industrial action if there is any sign of that.”

In July, Mrs Squire said 90 per cent of the redundancies would be administrative, facilities and management staff, but the Reporter understands that nurses were among the staff told by email on Tuesday that their jobs were at risk.

The Trust has so far refused to tell unions which staff face redundancy.

Mrs Squire said: “We have had to inform around 150 members of staff that their current post is at risk.

“This does not mean that we are making 150 people redundant.

“We are looking to find alternative posts where possible for these staff. It is our intention to avoid compulsory redundancies wherever possible.

“We recognise that this is a difficult time for the staff affected and we are working hard to support them through the changes.”