HEALTH bosses in York and North Yorkshire say they cannot rule out compulsory redundancies as they face the task of reducing management costs by 30 per cent in four years.

The Department of Health has asked all primary care trusts (PCTs) across the country – including NHS North Yorkshire and York and North Yorkshire and York Community and Mental Health Services – to make these cutbacks to prepare for a “challenging financial future”.

The Government’s instructions state that half of the cuts, which will affect office-based staff and not front-line clinical staff, must be achieved during the financial year 2010/11.

Jayne Brown, chief executive of NHS North Yorkshire and York, said: “To remain efficient we are reviewing all our functions in line with this guidance, including our corporate administration to ensure colleagues focus on core business.

“We realise the size of the task ahead of us and while we cannot rule out redundancies, we will do everything we can to minimise compulsory measures by pursuing vacancy freezes, voluntary redundancy and redeployment to vacant roles. We are consulting fully with staff and partners about this review and will continue to do so.” Ms Brown said the Department of Health had set the goal of reducing management costs to prepare for the fact 2010/11 would be the last year of significant growth for the NHS.

She said: “It is clear that we need to prepare for the future in order to secure a sustainable health economy in North Yorkshire and York.

“It is really important to say that this is a national issue for all primary care trusts and is not a reflection of our particular financial position. It will also not affect front-line clinical staff. This review will not alter our strategic plan, and we are still very much committed to improving local health services and the wellbeing of local people.”

City of York councilor Christian Vassie, who will stand as Liberal Democrat candidate for York Central at the forthcoming General Election, said it was important the PCT consulted fully with its partners, including the council and patient groups.

“We have to make sure what they propose is acceptable to the local community because the risk is that the cuts will further erode services,” he said.