Health professionals rallied outside John Hunter Hospital this afternoon, over a round of job cuts across the Hunter New England health district.
The union says seven specialist Allied Health Director roles are being axed, placing further pressure on remaining employees.
The changes will affect several sectors, including physiotherapy, social work, occupational therapy, dietetics and speech pathology.
Statement from Hunter New England Health.
Hunter New England Health is streamlining Allied Health senior management positions.
To achieve this, changes are being made to six Allied Health Profession Director positions (equating to 3.3 full time equivalent positions).
This is a small number of senior administrative positions and there will be no change to the services provided to patients.
Some of these staff have chosen to be redeployed into other roles within the local health district, while the remaining staff members have chosen a voluntary redundancy. We are working closely with the Health Services Union to manage these changes.
HNE Health has also strengthened its profession-specific advisory groups to ensure effective leadership and development opportunities for staff within Allied Health.
Funding will be redirected into frontline health services.
Mr Kim Nguyen, Director of Allied Health, Hunter New England Health
