Cuts force award winner to lose job

VOL: 102, ISSUE: 25, PAGE NO: 7

Jobs watch 20 June 2006

Jobs watch 20 June 2006

A primary care nurse has lost his job despite winning a Queen's Nursing Institute (QNI) award for his work with care home patients.

Jon Ryland, previously project lead, case management, at West Gloucestershire PCT, was one of two nurses at the trust who won funding for a project to improve health of older patients in care.

Mr Ryland lost his job after the trust, which is forecasting a deficit for the financial year 2005-2006, opted not to renew his contract in March.

Mr Ryland told NT: 'Initially I did wrestle and struggle with the notion of not having a job, especially given both my work streams were fundamental to what the PCT had to do - that is trying to reduce secondary care admission.'

A spokesperson for West Gloucestershire PCT said: 'One of our project managers and award winners, who has now left the PCT, was recruited on a fixed term contract to help establish the project and we are very grateful to him for his excellent contribution.'