DISTRICT nurses are the latest victims as the purse-strings tighten across Bury's health services.

The community workers are outraged after learning that their travel expenses could be dramatically cut.

A draft document from Bury Health Care NHS Trust exclusively leaked to the Bury Times blames "considerable financial pressure" and bedblocking saying that "people requiring nursing and residential care is causing many beds in the Bury hospitals to be inappropriately used".

The Trust say it means they have been forced to put together a package of savings to make sure they don't begin a plunge into the red. But they fear this will not be enough and want to recoup around £150,000 by changing the way travel expenses are paid.

Staff affected by the proposed cuts are shocked and dismayed. One nurse who wanted to remain anonymous said: "We are all really angry and feel we are being asked to subsidise bad management.

"This will affect us a great deal when we are already doing extra work because of an increase in the numbers of people being cared for outside hospital."

A cash sum is paid to nursing staff who use their own cars to visit patients in their homes. The money pays for wear and tear on the vehicles and it is this allowance that will be reduced for some staff.

The chief executive of Bury Health Care NHS Trust said: "We have every sympathy with the nurses. We are regarded as an extremely efficient Trust, but at the end of the year we are required to balance the books and so must make savings.

"The situation is extremely difficult and will continue to be very difficult. We are looking at a number of different options and this is just one of them."

Consultations on the proposals are currently taking place and staff have been asked to come up with alternative suggestions by the end of November.

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