NHS spends £1.8bn on staff redundancy pay-offs following Government restructuring

More than 44,000 people have been laid off in the last five years with some 5,500 re-employed by the NHS in another job

Andy Burnham said that this was a reorganisation that didn’t need to happen (PA)

About £1.8bn has been spent on NHS staff redundancy pay-offs since the Government’s restructuring of the health service, according to new figures.

More than 44,000 people have been laid off in the last five years with some 5,500 re-employed by the NHS in another job, Sky News reported.

Some were given severance payments in excess of £200,000.

The shadow Health Secretary Andy Burnham, who is standing for Labour leader, told the broadcaster: “Today the figures hit a new high – £1.8bn wasted. And what are doctors to make of this?

“No wonder morale in the NHS is at rock bottom. This was a reorganisation that didn’t need to happen.

“They’ve thrown money at redundancies, given people pay-off cheques like confetti at the NHS at a time when we’re not doing right by the staff of the National Health Service.”

The Government insisted the restructuring had saved money and reduced bureaucracy.

A Department of Health spokesman said: “New figures this week actually showed that our changes saved far more than expected at £6.9bn and cost less than originally estimated.

“Labour oppose these reforms, but won't say how they would afford the 9,000 more doctors and 8,500 more nurses that the NHS can employ as a result.”