Fears for future of Dorset County Hospital

Following a shock announcement yesterday that 200 jobs are to be cut over the next year, staff and patients branded it a ‘devastating blow’ and feared that standards will drop.

In an exclusive interview with the Echo, yesterday interim chief executive Derek Smith revealed that in order to reduce the hospital’s £7.5million debt there would be 200 job losses, a possible pay freeze and change in services.

Staff arriving at hospital yesterday attended emergency talks held by the directors where they were informed of the bad news.

A member of staff who works in theatre, who did not wish to be named, said: “Everyone’s a bit despondent because we’re already short staffed and this will just mean extra work.

“It’s always the little people who get it, the management are still running their fast cars. They won’t take a pay cut.”

She added: “We’re all too scared to speak in the open, in case we get the sack.”

A 37-year-old bank nurse said: “The morale here today is shocking.

“This action will cripple what has already been a hard year.

“For too long there have been too many chiefs and not enough indians round here. Today is a very sad day all round.”

Patient Sylvia Ellis, 66, of Dorchester, whose son works at the hospital as a cleaner, told how staff were concerned about the implications of the cuts.

He said: “It’s a very worrying time, with not just staff but patients affected.

“My son works there as a cleaner, cleanliness is one of the most important things really.

“This is terrible news, a lot of people come here for treatment.

“I come here for light treatment every day and they’re absolutely wonderful in the dermatology department.

“We’d be lost without them.”

Patients were also concerned that services will deteriorate because of the cuts.

Terry Brinfald, 80, from Bridport, said: “The service is not going to be very good after 200 people have lost their jobs.

“This is terrible, shocking.”

Monty Brown, 76, of Dorchester had just been discharged from the hospital after spending almost six weeks in the renal unit on a dialysis machine.

He said: “It’s been an eye-opener to be on the ward for nearly six weeks, seeing how run off their feet the staff are.

“The nurses are doing an excellent job and you can’t fault them.

“They’re already overworked and we don’t need to cut them.”

His wife, Billie, 72, said: “We’re very grateful for what they’ve done for Monty.

“As the spouse coming up every day, the nurses are always very helpful and polite even though they were run off their feet.

“My husband has been able to walk out of the hospital thanks to the staff there. Two months ago he wouldn’t have been able to do that.

“It’s absolutely remarkable.”

Maternity ward patient and online campaigner for the hospital, Rachel Hayball, was also worried that standards would drop after the cuts. She said: “It should not be the frontline staff that are cut.

“I can’t see how making job cuts can make things any better at all.

“It would be unfair if this caused the standards to drop because the staff just couldn’t cope.”

The group she set up on Facebook to campaign for the Special Care Baby Unit at DCH has now been changed to Let’s Look After Dorset County Hospital.

The public worker’s union Unison also condemned the move by the hospital and demanded talks with the board.

Regional manager Lisa Youlton said: “Unison is shocked and concerned at this announcement of job cuts. While we understand the hospital faces financial difficulties, reacting with swinging job cuts is premature.

“Cutting staff means losing valuable services and impacts on the local economy.

“The hospital has not consulted properly with the trade unions on this matter and we will be seeking urgent talks with them about this issue.”

Patient governor for the trust Derek Julian, said: “I regret the loss of any jobs, but the hospital is having to deal with serious mismanagement. At the end of the day the service the patients receive must be the highest priority.”