Blackpool Teaching Hospitals Trust has opened a formal consultation that could see more than 140 managerial staff moved down to lower pay grades as part of a drive to save around £500,000. The proposals affect roles at Blackpool Victoria Hospital and have been met with concern from senior staff and trade unions over the potential impact on morale and patient care.
What the trust is proposing
The consultation lists up to 144 roles as potentially affected, although the trust has said it expects only a “small number” to be impacted depending on the outcome. Some employees could lose as much as £3,600 a year if their posts are downgraded to a lower pay band.
Blackpool Teaching Hospitals employs about 6,000 people across the Fylde Coast, Lancashire and South Cumbria. The proposals come as the trust continues to tackle a larger financial picture: last year it reported a deficit of roughly £21 million and has received national support to help recover its finances.
Staff reaction and concerns
A senior manager, speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service but declining to be named, warned the plans risked harming staff morale and could have consequences for patients and the community.
"The move would destroy morale... and have a worrying impact on the patients and community we serve"
Sources at the hospital told the LDRS that colleagues were "shocked, appalled and worried" about the proposals. The trust says it is working directly with staff who may be affected and that views raised in the consultation will be considered before any decisions are taken.
- Scope: Up to 144 managerial roles listed for consultation.
- Potential savings: Around £500,000 targeted by the proposals.
- Individual impact: Some staff could see pay reduced by up to £3,600 per year.
Trust response and context
Maggie Oldham, Chief Executive of Blackpool Teaching Hospitals, said the trust had recently completed an "important restructure" of clinical divisions. She described that move as a necessary first step to strengthen accountability, improve decision-making and align services to patient pathways.
Ms Oldham emphasised that the trust was engaging with colleagues who might be affected and would consider their input before concluding any changes. The trust framed the proposals as part of wider measures to secure financial stability following last year’s deficit.
| Metric | Figure |
| Roles listed in consultation | Up to 144 |
| Target savings | About £500,000 |
| Possible individual pay loss | Up to £3,600 a year |
| Workforce across trust | About 6,000 staff |
| Last-reported deficit | About £21 million |
The trust’s position is that the review is part of routine organisational planning to ensure services are run efficiently and consistently. But for staff on the front line at Blackpool Victoria — and the patients they care for — the prospect of demotions, reduced pay and falling morale is not an abstract calculation.
For a town that has relied on its hospital for acute services across the Fylde Coast, the stakes are plain: any step that undermines management stability risks a knock-on effect on clinical teams already working under pressure. The trust says it will listen during the consultation; unions and staff will be watching closely to see whether that listening leads to changes in the proposals or to mitigations for those affected.
As the consultation proceeds, local councillors, staff and patient groups are likely to push for clarity about which roles might actually change, what scrutiny there will be of the selection process and what safeguards will be put in place to protect service delivery and staff wellbeing.
This is a live local issue that will shape the working lives of hundreds of people at Blackpool Victoria and, by extension, the care available to the community. WE NEWS will follow developments as the trust moves through the consultation period.
