East London mental health trust plans £25m savings with 330 jobs at risk

East London NHS Foundation Trust is considering plans to save almost £25 million, with around 330 posts potentially affected as part of changes to mental health and community services.

The trust, which provides mental health, community and primary care services across east London, Bedfordshire and Luton, is seeking savings of £24.97 million as NHS trusts across England face requirements to balance their finances.

Proposals could result in around 330 posts being removed, representing approximately 5% of a 6,000-strong workforce identified in the trust’s savings plans. The reductions would be achieved through a combination of redundancies and the removal of posts.

At least 10 services could be redesigned under the proposals, including child and adolescent mental health services, adult mental health care, talking therapies, addiction services, crisis support and community programmes.

Fothergill Ward, a 20-bed intermediate care ward at East Ham Care Centre, has stopped accepting new referrals and is scheduled to close on 21 September.

The proposals have attracted criticism from trade unions and campaigners, who have raised concerns about the potential impact of staffing reductions on waiting times and access to mental health services. Unite is also preparing to ballot members at the trust over potential industrial action.

East London NHS Foundation Trust said the proposals remain at an early stage and that no changes will be implemented without undergoing a quality impact assessment.

The trust said it has a responsibility to operate within its available resources while continuing to provide high-quality care. It said its approach is clinically led and that it is working with staff, trade unions and partners to identify sustainable efficiencies while protecting the quality and safety of services.

Stay informed with the stories shaping health and social care.