At least 10,000 NHS jobs are being cut in front line health services, causing concern from the Royal College of Nursing.

There are at least 10,000 jobs which have been or are due to be lost due to redundancies, retirement and recruitment freezes report the College who refer to it as an ‘insidious erosion of staffing’.  This reduction in numbers is part of the NHS having to make savings of £15-20 billion over the next 4 years.

With the need to improve services and reduce waiting times, this news is at odds with that process and it is anticipated that the number of people wishing to turn from relying solely on the NHS and moving towards private medical insurance (whether the more affordable cash plan or fully comprehensive PMI) so they have a confirmed way of getting prompt treatment if acute conditions occur.

Health Minister Anne Milton, however, commented: “I understand the RCN’s frustration and concern. The Government has committed to a real terms increase in NHS funding each year. We are seeking £20bn of efficiency savings by 2014. Every penny of this is available to support the delivery of quality healthcare service to patients.”