HEALTH bosses have unveiled the first wave of the 400 job cuts planned for hospitals in Southampton this year.

They have launched a 30-day consultation to axe up to 99 management, clerical and administrative jobs as part of a massive shake-up across Southampton General and Princess Anne hospitals.

It’s the first stage of major cutbacks that could see up to 1,400 jobs go in the next four years as part of a £100m cost cutting drive.

Bosses at Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust, responsible for running the two hospitals, must save £30m alone this year and want to cut the workforce by 400 posts, followed by a further 200 posts next year.

First in line for the axe are managers, clerical and admin staff working in the trust’s headquarters which will be reduced in size saving £1.6m.

Those working across the trust’s divisional management structures are also at risk with the number of operating divisions, each covering different areas such as surgery, being streamlined from five to four saving £500,000.

Trust chief executive Mark Hackett said: “This is not a decision we have taken lightly but we are in a situation where we must balance our desire to protect employment with our responsibility for delivering high-quality services at a time when resources are shrinking.

“We will make every effort in this process to avoid compulsory redundancies and are striving to offer the best support we can to staff whose posts have been formally put at risk of redundancy.”

Health chiefs say the cuts are being made to protect frontline services in the face of rising costs and a freeze in the trust’s £500m annual income.

They must also save an extra £9m this year because both Hampshire and Southampton Primary Care Trusts want to reduce the money they spend on hospitals and develop new community-based services instead.

David Prout from the Southampton branch of Unison said: “For everyone that leaves, there will be an impact on staff left behind.

“That can only be sustained for a very short time.

“Frontline staff will not be able to do all the extra administrative work.”