PATIENTS MUST NOT LOSE OUT BECAUSE OF JOB CUTS: MULHOLLAND

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 15th Jul 2005

Greg Mulholland, Member of Parliament for Leeds North West, has urgently called upon the Health minister to ensure the quality of health care will not change as a consequence of proposed job cuts at Leeds Hospitals.

Reports claim that the workforce of hospital staff in Leeds is set to be reduced by up to 600 posts. Although there will be no redundancies due to posts being lost through the non-replacement of some leavers and the redeployment of others, cuts in the numbers of doctors and nurses cannot be ruled out.

Commenting, Greg said:

"These reports are deeply concerning for many of my constituents, worried that job losses will have a detrimental effect on health care provision.

"The consultants and staff of the hospitals carry out their duties magnificently, often in difficult circumstances and deserve the proper resources to continue that work.

"Today, I hope to receive a positive response from the minister to reassure both the patients and health care professionals".