UNITE members at an NHS mental health trust have sounded the alarm over plans to cut up to 365 jobs in a bid to save £29 million in the current financial year.
They say the “piecemeal and secretive way” that East London NHS Foundation Trust (ELFT) directors are announcing their decisions is “clearly designed to avoid any proper scrutiny of the overall plans” by the public, watchdogs and politicians.
An internal report published by the union branch states: “The decision of the Keir Starmer’s Labour government to continue the 14 years of austerity by not increasing spending on the NHS is forcing trusts like ELFT to make painful decisions, with even more painful consequences for vulnerable service users.
“While ministers will, to some extent correctly, blame this situation on the previous Tory governments, the reality is that the new government has chosen to go down the same route and NHS leaders have made only half-hearted and timid attempts to challenge the decision.
“It will be of little if any comfort for mental health patients who are denied the services they need, or for their families, to be told by cynical politicians which party took the decision to sacrifice their wellbeing rather than tax the wealthy and the profits of big business, as Unite leader Sharon Graham has argued.”
The report says members are particularly concerned at the trust’s proposing cuts of at least 4 per cent in budgets for all services, warning that they “could have a serious impact on the quality and safety of treatment for patients with the more serious and challenging needs.
“The Unite branch is calling on other trade union activists in London and beyond, campaigners and local and national politicians to help build a concerted resistance to the brutal and damaging round of cuts taking place.”
Earlier this year, ELFT admitted that up to 12 dead patients’ medical records may have been partially falsified.
Board papers released last month say that the trust has conducted a “comprehensive review” of the 12 incidents.
ELFT said that “there are no internal reports or investigations into any alleged fabrication of records,” following a freedom of information request by the Newham Recorder.
The trust was contacted for comment.
