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More than 500 healthcare workers at East London NHS Foundation Trust are being balloted for industrial action over plans to save approximately £25 million and remove more than 330 posts.
Unite members taking part include mental health nurses, psychologists, healthcare assistants and administrative workers. The union says proposed reductions would affect child and adolescent mental health services, adult psychology, community health provision and other frontline services.
Unite has warned that reducing staffing while demand for mental health support continues to rise could increase waiting times, intensify pressure on existing employees and place patient safety at risk. The dispute also covers NHS pay, changes to a care navigator role and the removal of a Unite branch secretary, which the union alleges was an act of victimisation.
ELFT has previously said it must operate within its available funding while continuing to provide sustainable, high-quality care. The trust said the likelihood of compulsory redundancies remained low because it had already redeployed a significant number of employees.
The ballot closes on 9 November. If members vote in favour, strike action could take place during the winter, although no walkout dates have yet been announced. ELFT provides mental health, community and primary care services across East London, Bedfordshire and Luton.
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Posted by:
M Ramalani
Editorial Assistant – The Daily Round
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