SCORES of hospital and other NHS posts in Gwent have been phased out as health bosses implement plans aimed at closing a multi-million pound budget deficit.

The equivalent of 133 full-time jobs across Gwent Healthcare Trust were lost during the six months to the end of last September, according to a trust personnel report.

But some of these posts were part-time, so the actual staff involved numbered more than 170.

The losses were mainly down to posts being phased out through departmental reorganisation or not refilled when they became vacant. The trust has been operating a recruitment freeze, with posts not filled unless the circumstances are exceptional. All vacant posts are subject to review.

A current overall total of posts lost is not available, but with the cost reduction programme ongoing, it is likely that more have gone.

The trust is attempting to save more than £12m this financial year, but in the year beginning April 1 will try to save more than £20m, and more than £20m again during 2008/09.

Overall, the trust and Gwent's five Local Health Boards must close a cash gap of £42.5m, as well as finding efficiency savings every year.

Trust chiefs have repeatedly stressed that compulsory redundancies will be avoided if at all possible, but with departments and senior management structures being reorganised, and ways of working reviewed across the trust, many staff are worried about jobs.

Public service union Unison is currently negotiating over future numbers and roles of some 400 medical secretaries in Gwent hospitals and branch chairman Terry Thurgar said other staff face similar battles.

"We've had indications that there won't be compulsory redundancies (with regard to medical secretaries), but we are in the middle of this process and are trying to get written confirmation before continuing with the negotiations," she said.

The loss of NHS posts in Gwent in recent months marks the end of a period of considerable public sector health jobs growth. The trust employed just over 10,000 staff in 1999/2000, but by 2005/06 had a workforce bordering 13,000.