One of Brighton and Hove’s health trusts is expected to shed about 400 staff in the next few years.
Sussex Community NHS Trust employs more than 4,000 staff such as district nurses and specialist nurses in Brighton and Hove and across West Sussex.
They provide community rehabilitation and support, especially for people with complex health needs, long-term conditions or those nearing the end of their life.
The trust’s staff also help people who are well enough to leave hospital but not able to be totally independent.
The drive to cut staff comes as the trust is asked to spend less in real terms this year.
In the trust’s accounts for 2010-11 it said: “In 2010-11 our budget totalled £189 million.
“This funding came from the primary care trusts NHS West Sussex (£124 million) and NHS Brighton and Hove (£65 million).
“In 2011-12 our budget is £184 million.
“The reduction in funding reflects the transfer of adult neuro-rehabilitation beds to Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust and the reduction in income from the primary care trust, plus the requirement on all NHS trusts to make efficiency savings, as set out in the Department of Health’s Operating Framework for 2011-12, published last year.”
The trust’s management hope to cover as many of the job losses as possible through natural wastage although it was unable to rule out redundancies.
Natural wastage would include not replacing staff who retire or leave, and moving staff to vital jobs from secondary areas.
The trust also plans to cut its bill for agency staff by using fewer of them.
