Rapid Responses to:

NEWS: Owen Dyer NHS trust plans to cut consultant posts to make savings BMJ 2005; 331: 797-a [Full text]

Rapid Responses: Submit a response to this article

Rapid Responses published:

Morale in mental Health

Teresa J Black   (9 October 2005)

Morale in mental Health 9 October 2005
Teresa J Black, Consultant Psychotherapist Wolverhampton WV1 4SA Send response to journal: Re: Morale in mental Health	The announcement of the proposed cuts in consultant as well as other medical posts in Oxfordshire can only serve to damage morale even further among those struggling to provide a decent service in a shortage speciality; to add insult to injury the Trust has apparently balanced its books for 5 years which makes one very cynical about the financial accounting which goes on. Two or three months ago the PCT in which I work was congratulating all staff for our hard work in helping to balance the books; suddenly this has been turned into a deficit and management is now obsessed with making cuts which are bound to be to the detriment of patient care. Two completely irreconcilable messages are emanating from the government; on the one hand the mantra is all about patient choice, on the other services are being cut left right and centre. Do consultants need to get more organised in opposing the dismantling of the NHS? Competing interests: None declared