Sheffield - stop these attacks on children's health

THE NHS in Sheffield faces huge cost-cutting measures. Over Ł100 million has already been announced in cuts over the next three years. About 10% of this is based at the Sheffield Children's NHS trust.

Jon Smith GMB branch secretary, Sheffield Children's hospital

Yes that's right, government cuts are now affecting our children's services. Our trust in Sheffield is not, as the government says, a 'bad trust' or an 'underperforming trust' - we finished last year with a Ł1.4 million surplus.

So why did we start this year with plans to cut Ł3.5 million? And Ł9 million over the next three years? This is due to New Labour's "efficiency savings" and internal market Payment by Results policy.

This in reality means cuts to services and jobs. We're constantly being told that the trust has to 'realign its services' or 'reorganise' but these words can be simply replaced with cuts, cuts, cuts!

Already we're seeing experienced roles being replaced with newly qualified staff on lowly grades. There are already plans to close wards, like S2 the Ear, Nose and Throat ward, and already some jobs are not being replaced at all. This has got to stop.

Union reps are calling for a local march and rally in Sheffield, both to unite the people of Yorkshire and for us to start and win back our NHS. Please support us in this event on Saturday 9 September, assemble 10am Weston Park, Sheffield.

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In The Socialist 24 August 2006:

Unite against war, terror and racism