600 face jobs axe.

Byline: By Jane Picken

Health workers are fighting to save their jobs as bosses meet to decide their fate.

More than 600 NHS workers at the Newcastle and Durham offices of the Prescription Pricing Division (PPD) could be out of work, with their jobs moved to offices abroad.

The proposals to outsource pounds 8bn worth of nationwide NHS services are being considered by management body the NHS Business Services Authority, which is due to meet on Tuesday to rubber-stamp the privatisation plans

But health workers' union Unison and staff at the two offices are determined to fight any closures, saying a move abroad could threaten the security of patient information and fail to save money for the cash-strapped NHS.

The Prescription Pricing Division (PPD), formerly the Prescription Pricing Authority, calculates payments for drugs or equipment handed out through the NHS.

John Douglas, 50, from Consett, County Durham, has worked in the Newcastle office's IT department for seven years.

"Everyone is very worried and also annoyed as we've worked hard to make the service a success," said John, whose wife has worked in the patient services department for two years.

"We don't know for sure if the service is going to go abroad but people are preparing to lose their jobs. Even if the service stays in this country there are still concerns about our future."

Peter Chapman, Unison regional officer, said: "The PPD management is recommending a route that, even in their flawed analysis, provides very few savings for maximum risk.

"They have ignored the in-house savings from new technology, they have ignored the risk of fraud and to security and they have ignored the social costs of the potential redundancies.

"Frankly if the decision is to privatise, they will be gambling with pounds 8bn of public money."

Mike Siswick, director of human resources at the PPD, told the Chronicle: "In line with its business objectives, the PPD has developed a range of detailed options for delivering financial savings, which would be committed to frontline patient care.

"These options have been fully shared with Unison, which has responded to them.

"The NHS Business Services Authority Board is due to meet on Tuesday and members expect to discuss both the options appraisal and the union response."

Unison members recently voted by 90% to consider strike action if the plans go ahead.