Royal Bolton Hospital trust to axe up to 500 jobs

Up to 500 posts are to be cut at the trust that runs the Royal Bolton Hospital, the NHS has said.

Bolton NHS Foundation Trust needs to save about £20m this year, with more savings needed in coming years.

Trust chairman David Wakefield said managers were hoping to avoid many compulsory redundancies, but some would be inevitable.

Unison regional manager Steve Stott described it as a "devastating blow for families".

All staff at the trust have been told officially and a 90-day consultation exercise has started.

Mr Stott said: "The trust says it is looking at voluntary redundancies and natural wastage, but the scale of the job losses are a cause for huge concern and compulsory redundancies aren't ruled out of the trust's plans.

"Whilst we wish to enter into meaningful negotiations, Unison is already consulting with members and a regional team will be deployed during the period of the 26th to 30th November to discuss the consequence of these cuts with as many staff as possible."

The trust has confirmed it is also considering making further savings by changing the contracts of 1685 nursing, midwifery and support staff as well as and medical and dental personnel.