Graeme Calver thinks "something's got to give" within his NHS trust

The chief executive of the East Kent Hospitals NHS Trust said last week that a "significant challenge" lay ahead in the next financial year.

Now consultant microbiologist Graeme Calver has spoken out, saying MRSA testing in his department is at risk.

The trust runs hospitals in Canterbury, Margate, Ashford, Dover and Folkestone.

Chief executive David Astley said savings plans needed to be made to avoid a possible �35m debt in the future.

Mr Calver responded: "We're talking about 10% less staff next year than we've got today.

The Kent and Canterbury Hospital is one of five run by the trust

"It's going to be through natural wastage so we don't know where the job cuts are going to be, they could be in very key positions.

"I really don't see how we can absorb this, something's got to give."

Mr Calver also claimed his investigative work was in jeopardy.

"We have seen significant increases in expenditure in our department on testing for MRSA, to meet the government targets of MRSA reduction.

"We were anticipating we would get extra money for that this year but we're actually going to get less."