 University Hospital of North Staffordshire has put off interviews |
A recruitment freeze has led to medical students waiting weeks to find out if they can have jobs at one of the Midlands' largest hospitals. About 50 newly-trained nurses at Keele University have had their job interviews postponed at the University Hospital of North Staffordshire.
The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) said the problem was nationwide, and it was working with the hospital.
The hospital has to save �16m from budgets by end of the financial year.
Liz Longstaff, RCN spokeswoman for Staffordshire and Shropshire, said: "The interviews have been deferred, they have not been cancelled.
"Every hospital is holding its vacancies while it sorts out what to do. This is not unique to this area. The staffing position will be clearer in the new year."
She said the jobs freeze affected medical and ancillary staff, with no-one being appointed in the short-term.
'future is bleak'
The University of Keele has declined to comment.
Hospital bosses have put off the interviews planned for December, until at least January, while it sorts out what jobs will be on offer.
Trust chief executive Peter Blythin said: "This is with great regret but the future is bleak and I need to protect vacancies to produce the workforce reductions required to cut our costs.
"I must consolidate the staff we already have and not add to the workforce. The nurses coming out of training are for the NHS nationally and not just the local area."
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