RECEPTIONISTS at the cash-strapped Worcestershire Royal Hospital are set to be replaced by volunteers as health chiefs set about reducing costs.

The move will leave the main reception at the £96m hospital without professional staff to help visitors, or deal with anxious relatives enquiring about the condition of patients.

One hospital employee, who did not want to be named for fear of repercussions, said the volunteers would not be able to do the job as effectively as the receptionists.

"I know the volunteers aren't happy about it," she said. "They are very helpful, but they can't use the computers to find out where patients are.

'It's down to money'

"A lot of people feel very strongly about it. I can see why they're doing it - it's all down to money."

Brian Clifton, chairman of Worcester Community Health Council, said he did not know how the hospital would be able to function without proper receptionists.

"It seems rather strange," he said. "You shouldn't have only voluntary people manning the reception area.

"Volunteers like to get involved. But in terms of running the area, I don't know if volunteers would want to take on this responsibility.

"They need to cut back on expenses, but there are some areas where you need professional people."

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust's acting chief executive, Graham Smith, revealed plans to save £9m a year last month.

He said 50 hospital management jobs would be cut, with some staff being re-deployed.

One-fifth of management staff will be affected by the cutbacks. The trust overspent by almost £8m last financial year, and had to beg for a £7.5m loan from the West Midlands South Strategic Health Authority in March this year.

However, a spokesman for Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust said the volunteer way-finding initiative had proved to be very popular.

"We are looking to increase this successful service in order to ensure that patients can locate clinics and be directed to their relatives on the wards," she said.

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