Renfrewshire Politicians Slam SNP Plans To Cut NHS Jobs

Local Labour MSP’s Hugh Henry, Trish Godman and Wendy Alexander have said they are appalled at the SNP Government plans to cut almost 4,000 NHS jobs this year, including over 1,500 nurses. They are warning that it will have damaging impact on patient care across Renfrewshire and the rest of Scotland.
The campaigning politicians said that the SNP were forced into publishing the workforce planning projections after weeks of pressure from Scottish Labour, which resulted in a debate in the Scottish Parliament.

In a joint statement the three Renfrewshire politicians said: 
“The SNP have been forced to come clean and admit that they plan to cut 4,000 NHS jobs this year, including over 1,500 nurses. Many of the job loses will have a direct impact here in Renfrewshire. This is appalling. You simply cannot lose this number of jobs without damaging patient care.
These cuts are being made by the SNP when the overall Scottish budget has risen by almost £1bn. It’s incredible that they have only increased spending on health by a measly 1.8%. 
Is seems as though the SNP would rather waste money from the Scottish budget on a referendum on independence than on hospitals and frontline staff. That is why Scotland’s NHS will never be safe in SNP hands.
The SNP Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon is being dishonest when she says that the cuts will have no impact on frontline services. Of course it will, even NHS managers admit that the SNP’s cuts in the workforce will “lead to a reduced service”.
“The reality of this SNP administration is that ‘More Nats mean Fewer Nurses’. We believe that these cuts are totally unacceptable and will campaign to defend frontline NHS jobs.”