Controversy reigns over Ailsa hospital job losses.

May 6 2011 by Lisa Boyle, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

Controversy reigns over Ailsa hospital job losses.

MORE than 70 NHS staff are being made redundant in Ayrshire.

And the job losses have sparked outrage among workers at Ailsa Hospital, where scores of people are affected.

The axe is falling on staff who have already been redeployed during a shake up of wards at the site.

But many people in permanent roles who want a package are being told they can’t have it.

One nurse said: “A lot of these redeployed staff are young women with mortgages and families. They are desperate to keep their jobs.

“Then there are people like me who have given many years of service and are ready to go. But I’m being told ‘tough’.

“Apparently I’m not eligible because my role isn’t being made redundant.

“But I don’t see why they can’t give me my redundancy and move the people who are classed as ‘redeployed’ into my job. It doesn’t make sense to me.”

“They are getting rid of people who need to work and keeping on people who’d gladly go.”

However, health chiefs claim they are doing all they can to find redeployed staff other jobs.

Mark Adderley, executive director of people and development for NHS Ayrshire and Arran, said: “We are committed to finding staff in redeployment other suitable roles. However, there are times when this is not possible.

“In this instance we offered this group of staff the option to express an interest in voluntary redundancy.”

And he added: “Of these members of staff, 19 have requested and been accepted for voluntary redundancy.

“The criteria for redundancy is that a member of staff is in redeployment and unable to find alternative employment.

“People who are in permanent roles, (not in redeployment), whatever their age, have not been offered voluntary redundancy as they are not eligible.”

A shake up of several wards have at Ailsa Hospital has resulted in dozens of staff being left with uncertain futures.

The Dean Ward, which closed last year, is being reopened for Killochen ward patients, which is set to close.

Ballantrae ward is closing and patients are being transferred to Crossraguel ward.

And Albany ward has been reopened for Glenapp patients.