A NUMBER of staff at Okehampton and Moretonhampstead Community Hospitals could be made redundant as the trust that runs the hospitals is proceeding with plans to standardise catering, portering and cleaning services in its hospitals.

The Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust has made the decision following a comprehensive review and 90-day consultation with staff in the trust's hotel services division.

The consultation started on April 23 and closed on August 10. All hotel services staff in the trust's Eastern area were involved. The 12 hospitals involved also include those in Exeter, Crediton, and Budleigh Salterton.

The consultation considered all options and suggestions to try and ensure standards for patients are uniformly high and based on common policies, provision and training, while improving efficiency and protecting frontline services.

Two main proposals were considered — the multi-skilling of hotel services staff and a standardised catering system with meals delivered for final preparation on site.

Under the changes, Eastern area staff will be trained to be multi-skilled in all the hotel services functions, including cleaning, infection control, portering and catering. Retraining will be provided to staff.

All sites will move to a catering system where meals are delivered, ready for final preparation on site as and when needed. Okehampton Hospital has had this system in place for several years.

Jac Kelly, the trust's chief executive, said:

'We recognise this has been a difficult and unsettling process for staff and are doing everything in our power to support everyone affected.

'We are confident we can keep redundancies to an absolute minimum and offer new opportunities for our employees.'

Staff were updated on the consultation outcome by hand-delivered letter last week.

In the next stage of the process, each member of hotel services staff will have an individual meeting to discuss how the outcome will affect them.

Some staff will be redeployed to continue the same role in a different location, while others will be able to transfer their skills to a different role, such as a healthcare assistant post, supported by a package of training and support.

The trust is also liaising with local employers to try and secure alternative opportunities for staff, and advice on completing application forms, writing CVs and preparing for job interviews will be made available.