Claims NHS Highland money squandered on talks

Cash-strapped NHS Highland has spent almost £8000 on fruitless talks over the past six months about 'potentially risky' security staff cuts at Raigmore Hospital, according to a trade union.

The GMB represents most of the hospital's security staff. It has calculated the sum on the number of hours that high-ranking, highly paid NHS officials have dedicated to the discussions. There have been nine meetings to date. Three more are scheduled to follow.

The board has hit back, insisting that "organisational change is managed within existing resources".

The GMB's regional officer Liz Gordon claims that the process has so far cost taxpayers £7808.34.

She said: "It's suspected that the board want to save money by getting security guards to undertake more of the work done by the porters, and vice versa.

"Equally, nursing is going to be expected to call upon the security guards less frequently and, therefore, do more themselves."

The next meeting between bosses and the union is scheduled for early August.