Deficit, Not Service, Driving Job Cuts

“Clinical Records staff reject the claims by CDHB General Manager, Jim Magee, that the proposed job cuts are due to shortcomings in the department,” said Nadine Marshall, Secretary of the National Union of Public Employees (NUPE) today. She was commenting on a CDHB proposal which would make fourteen clinical records staff redundant by changing the responsbililty for records to the users. “In our view doctors and nurses have enough to do without becoming responsible for the paperwork.”

“Staff and their Union representatives were told that the proposal was based on a theoretical untrialled model,” said Nadine Marshall. “The reduction of 14 full time equivalent staff members in the Clinical Records Department has been based on a particular methodology that will be only tested on implementation. This high risk approach is totally unacceptable for such an important function of the Hospital.”

“There are huge risks being taken with this proposal which is driven by the budget deficit of the CDHB rather than any deficiencies in the Clinical Records Department,” said Nadine Marshall.

“Managers have also destroyed any staff goodwill towards the CDHB with yesterday’s announcement that all staff in the Clinical Records Department would lose their jobs and have to reapply for them with only about half being re-employed in the Department,” said Nadine Marshall. “Staff were devastated when handed the proposal as the review had been based on assurances that there would be no job losses other than through attrition.”

“Our Union opposes the proposal and will look to ensure that the clinical records staff maintain their jobs while a trial of the new system is undertaken to see if it will work.” said Nadine Marshall.

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