HUNDREDS FACE AXE AT ROYAL FREE HOSPITAL

Published: 04 February 2010
EXCLUSIVE by TOM FOOT

A CASH crisis at the Royal Free Hospital is threatening hundreds of jobs, the New Journal can reveal.
The Hampstead hospital wants to “dis­establish” 180 posts, a spokeswoman confirmed last night (Wednesday).
But insiders have warned that the toll on jobs could be closer to 400 when a final ­savings package is hammered out.

Union chiefs said they are preparing for crunch talks with hospital finance bosses next week.
The drastic changes have been triggered by an announcement that the hospital’s annual budget will drop by at least a quarter due to government cutbacks.
Royal Free chief executive David Sloman warned board members on Thursday: “We face massive financial challenges and they are starting now.”

The financial chaos comes at a time when the hospital has caused raised eyebrows over the decision to pay £70,000 for four desks – privately dubbed “The Diamond Desks” by critics – as part of a major upgrade to its front entrance in Pond Street.

One trustee has quit the Royal Free Charity over the desks. He said: “Did anyone think that in this current situation it might not be appropriate?”
The Royal Free’s board rubber-stamped a financial strategy at Thursday’s meeting which officially recommends a merger or “integration option” with the Whittington Hospital  in Highgate, as revealed by the New Journal in November.

There is a massive campaign building aimed at convincing health chiefs not to cut the emergency department at the Whittington, a plan seen as one of the most unpopular ideas ever suggested for patients in north London.
Mr Sloman told the board: “It is unlikely that the Royal Free can deliver this strategic ambition alone.”
The documents also warn that “a number of services will no longer be provided from the Pond Street site”.

Under the plans, the Royal Free will become a specialist acute hospital with a fully functioning 24-hour accident and emergency. But all outpatient appointments will be provided elsewhere. Renal dialysis will be run in satellite units across north London and anti-coagulation will be provided in pharmacies.

Cardiac, neurosurgery and ear nose and throat treatment will be shared with the University College London Hospital.
Yet while the hospital juggles its services to meet a massive shortfall in funding, staff have sent desperate messages to the New Journal. One warns “we are in deep sh*t”, adding: “No redundancy is being offered as the trust needs to save millions.”

Finance chief Dr Charles Bruce will hold talks with Unison representatives but insiders say managers have already been told to reduce staffing levels.
In one case, a matron is understood to have been disciplined for refusing to accept orders she should cut front-line staff from her ward.

Meanwhile, staff told how a new system designed to make ordering stationery cheaper has ended up doubling costs.

A Royal Free spokeswoman said: “The Royal Free is looking to disestablish about 180 posts. Two-thirds of these will be lost through natural wastage such as retirement and fixed-term contracts. We expect to redeploy the vast majority of the remainder, if not all. The trust has been looking at ways to make cost savings without the need for redundancies, including looking at staff on fixed-term contracts and people who are over retirement age. The Royal Free makes every effort to retain staff or enable them to find new employment, including help with CV preparation, help finding another post, career counselling and offering a retraining grant of £500.”

She added: “The trust board last week approved its latest strategic framework which will enable us to meet the challenges of the economic recession while improving healthcare for Londoners.”