'We are getting absolutely pummelled' — NHS Tayside worker describes pressure amid recruitment freeze
An NHS Tayside employee says staff are struggling to do more than one job as positions go unfilled in a bid to slash the budget.
- By Marjory Inglis, health reporter
- Published in the Courier : 25.11.11
- Published online : 25.11.11 @ 08.54am
The situation looks unlikely to improve any time soon as the health authority's director of finance, Ian McDonald, confirmed there is a freeze on ''non-essential'' recruitment.
He said that will last at least until the end of next March and probably beyond.
The disgruntled employee said: ''There are not enough bodies to do the work and we are getting absolutely pummelled with jobs. Management have got to save 30-odd million pounds so there are cutbacks and they are not filling jobs.
''The people that are left are getting hit with doing their own job and the jobs of the people that are not replaced. It is really hard and nobody seems to be doing anything about it.''
A Ninewells Hospital worker was unimpressed with the claim the freeze is limited to ''non-essential'' posts.
''What the managers don't realise is that if there aren't enough cleaners, porters and kitchen staff, then the doctors and nurses can't do their jobs properly. Doctors and nurses aren't the only essential staff.''
Mr McDonald said he was leading by example and was not filling three posts that had become vacant in his own department.
''It just means every other member of staff is having to work a bit harder,'' he said.
He explained that managers who want to take on staff and fill posts must go before an NHS Tayside panel that scrutinises the request.
''For posts that become vacant between now and March 31, they will be separated into two — essential to recruit or non-essential. Essential posts we will fill. If they are not essential, they will be deferred.
''That is not just an issue between now and March 31 but that would probably continue in to 2012/13 (financial year beginning April 1).''
NHS Tayside senior executives and non-executives went behind closed doors on Thursday to discuss the recruitment freeze in detail and other measures aimed at helping the authority try to live within its means as budgets are squeezed.
10.48am - 25.11.2011 Health Employee - Dundee, Scotland UK Report This
Lost 3 members of staff, from what? 6 (50% down) or 12 (25% down)? ''It just means every other member of staff is having to work a bit harder,'' What is the bet that this manager isn't one of those having to do it? Very typical of today's managers, poor motivators, clearly aren't interested.
07.01pm - 29.11.2011 d - Dundee, Scotland Report This
I thought cleaning and catering were contracted out in health service? Leaving more money for bonuses and honorariums at the top. If they cut four of the chiefs out then they could pay a number of the other workers to work.
07.53pm - 29.11.2011 Mary Lomond - Dundee, UK Report This
Sack the managers! Bring in more porters, cleaners, radiographers, midwives, nurses, hospital doctors and GPs - these are the actual people that make a difference to our lives - not the 100s of managers sitting with their feet up earning over £100K each in NHS Tayside!! Less managers is the way!
12.03am - 02.01.2012 kelan - east midlands, uk Report This
... so there is currently 8 people, soon 7, doing 12 peoples job! a 40% decrease! yet we have to wait until april 2012 to find out if these jobs will be advertised. (They also trying to slash pay for working on call - £30 to £20/shift!). the remaining few in the team are thinking about leaving!
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