Sykes warns Northern Care Alliance not to short-change patients over staffing cuts

Leader of Oldham Liberal Democrats councillor Howard Sykes MBE has warned Northern Care Alliance bosses not to “short-change patients” as they prepare for a round of redundancies and cost cutting measures.

The NHS Trust, which covers Oldham, Bury, Rochdale and Salford, has announced plans to axe a number of staff and put a hiring freeze in place for the foreseeable future.  The announcement follows news that NCA had to pay out almost £2 million to patients in damages for the misdiagnosis of cancer over the last five years.

Councillor Sykes said, “Our NHS is collapsing because the Conservative government have run our healthcare system into the ground.  I know that Northern Care Alliance is facing budget pressures, but I strongly urge the management of the Trust to think carefully before axing roles that clearly support patients.

“It’s all well and good promising not to cut clinical staff.  But admin and support workers are just as valuable.  If those staff are lost without thought, I predict we will see ever worsening wait lists and more anguish for patients."

Sykes’ Liberal Democrat Group have repeatedly challenged the management and governance surrounding Northern Care Alliance.  In March, following sustained pressure from Liberal Democrat councillors, the ‘Joint Scrutiny Board’ that oversees NCA was reconvened - for the first time in four years - to probe and question the leadership of the Trust over service performance.

Councillor Sykes said, “Northern Care Alliance faces a whole host of issues which are well documented.

“We have a cancer crisis locally, with NCA only managing to see 48% of cancer patients for urgent treatment within the two-month target.  Last year, more than 5,000 people waited longer than 24-hours to be seen in A&E across NCA hospitals.  On top of that, last year Northern Care Alliance failed to disclose the existence of dangerous concrete in their facilities despite being asked to do so.

“This is not a Trust in good health.  And I worry that this latest round of cost-cutting will only hurt patients further.”