80 children's services staff at County Durham and Darlington NHS Trust warned jobs could be at risk (From Darlington and Stockton Times)
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80 staff in children's speech, language and occupational therapy department warned jobs could go
10:40pm Friday 8th February 2013 in News
Exclusive By Barry Nelson, Health Editor
THE entire children's speech, language and occupational therapy department at a North-East hospital trust has been given notice that they may be laid off by the end of the year.
The announcement - described as a "real shock" by union officials - was made in a letter from County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust to staff.
The Foundation Trust - which runs hospitals in Darlington, Durham City and Bishop Auckland - has called a meeting to discuss the matter at Chester-le-Street Cricket Club on Wednesday February 27.
The Primary Care Trust has served notice on the County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust that it intends to "terminate" the Paediatric Occupational Therapy and Paediatric, Speech and Language Therapy Services "with effect from 31st December 2013."
In a letter to union representatives, Sue Glennie, human resources manager for the Foundation Trust, said the PCT plans to "re-procure" speech, language and occupational therapy services for children across County Durham and Darlington,.
The letter added: "The Trust will be proactive in trying to secure the contract for these services via the tendering process. In the meantime, continuity of current services to children, young people and their families will be maintained."
She said the move has implications for around 80 staff working for the service across the trust.
Staff potentially affected include service managers, paediatric occupational therapists, paediatric speech and language therapists, therapy assistants and administrative staff.
Sheila Wilson, regional officer for Unison, said: "It is frightening. We now have 80 people whose future is hanging in the balance."
Mrs Wilson added: "This is just the start. We are worried what might happen after April when the new clinical commissioning groups take over."
A spokesman for the Foundation Trust said: "This is a vital service for many families, and our staff work hard to see children as quickly as possible and provide good quality care that meets their needs.
We plan to tender for the service as part of this process, and hope to keep it within the NHS Trust."
A spokesperson for NHS County Durham and Darlington said: "Following a review of children's therapies by NHS County Durham and Darlington, it was identified that some services were not meeting local needs."
The aim of the procurement process is to ensure " improved access, improved quality, consistency of delivery and better value for money."
Comments(5)
Spy Boy
says...
10:06pm Sat 9 Feb 13
The letter added: "The Trust will be proactive in trying to secure the contract for these services via the tendering process. In the meantime, continuity of current services to children, young people and their families will be maintained."
Do these executives ever learn English ? You could play buzzword bingo with all their little outpourings. The new Exec Language is to be called Bo****ks. They all seem to speak it these days, regardless of where they work. What they probably mean by Tender is that they have someone lined up that can make a profit out of the patients. Someone needs to investigate this whole rotten situation. Execs playing with people's lives and wellbeing. All this at such a time with all that is happening elsewhere.
Idontknowaboutyoubut
says...
9:10am Mon 11 Feb 13
ATION...
It is what the Nasties want,and they are eagerly supported by slobbering lap dog Clegg&co.
The grand solution is Health Insurance,and they would like to make it compulsive for all to have Health cover.What if we cannot afford it?
Tough!!
hardy_97
says...
11:24pm Sat 23 Feb 13
smogletindurham
says...
12:51am Fri 1 Mar 13
Maybe also a note that an NHS provider is the most likely to get the contract
A little note that this has been done because of how many complaints are received about speech and occupational therapy including MO complaints and parents willing to take to court
If it was mentioned that the goal is to develop not a nasty cut budgets service but a service specification that would mean services when they fail will be held to account because commissioners want a 6 week waiting list preferably not 26-78 weeks as they find now
Parent consultation events are happening now to find out what parents want services to look like
louisewilson55 says...
9:44pm Sat 9 Feb 13