Unions angry at health board plan to cut jobs

HEALTH unions have expressed alarm over plans by a health board to cut 155 jobs in key services, including nursing, social work and therapy.

The South Western Area Health Board (SWAHB) is to put full-time temporary workers on half-time, let temporary contracts run out without renewal and allow permanent posts to expire as staff resign or retire.

The cuts are to be made across the board in administration, medical and therapeutic services over the next four months in what is feared could be the start of a fresh round of cutbacks across health services countrywide.