ASSURANCES have been given that staffing at Felixstowe Community Hospital will not be changed – even though there may be redundancies at other units across the county.

Campaigners voiced fears that community nurses’ jobs could go after Serco, which now runs Suffolk Community Healthcare, and includes Felixstowe Community Hospital, is looking to shed 137 posts.

Suffolk Coastal MP Therese Coffey said she had met with senior management at Serco and been given assurances that staffing structures at the hospital in Constable Road will not change.

“Constituents have contacted me about their concerns concerning the Serco contract and the impact this could have on patient care,” said Dr Coffey.

“I have followed these up with Paul Forden, the managing director of clinical services, and he has given me categorical assurances that the staffing structure within Felixstowe Community Hospital will not change.

“Due to staff retirement there is one matron covering two community hospitals but a new matron for Felixstowe is being recruited.

“Clinical and support staff at Felixstowe Community Hospital are first rate and they were rated excellent yet again in an inspection last year.

“We are so fortunate to have such dedicated and professional staff and I am pleased that the hospital will continue to provide an excellent service to our town.”

Serco says its intention is to invest in technology and increase efficiency – and improve community healthcare in the process by enabling clinicians to spend more time caring for patients.

There would be a reduction of 227 current roles and the creation of 90 new ones with every effort made to redeploy staff into the new roles, and no compulsory redundancies among frontline clinical staff.

n Do you work at the community hospital and want to give us your view on this? Write to Ipswich Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich IP4 1AN, or e-mail starletters@archant.co.uk