14 September 2001
The Lothian University Hospitals Trust was ordered by the Scottish Executive to cut its spending to head off a potential £5.2m deficit for this financial year.
The trust has denied the cuts are the result of the £210m new Edinburgh Royal Infirmary that is due to open in February next year.
Allister Stewart, chief executive, said: 'The cut represents 2% overall. It has nothing to do with the building – this is an issue for this year and the facilities we have now. We have paid nothing to the company yet, it has not been handed over.'
A spokeswoman denied that medical staff would be affected: 'None of the posts will be frontline doctors or nurses. What we are trying to do is lose posts without affecting patient care. We would be seeking to redeploy and retrain staff wherever possible.'
Tom Waterson, Unison branch secretary, said: 'If you're going to do away with jobs, it's going to have a major impact on patient care.'
The cuts could affect the current Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, the Royal Hospital for Sick Children and the Western General.
The trust claimed the new Edinburgh Royal Infirmary will be the largest medical teaching facility in Europe. It is being built by the Consort Healthcare Consortium, which incorporates Balfour Beatty Construction, Morrison Development and the Royal Bank of Scotland.
PFsep2001
