Guernsey Health Minister Deputy Adam says no job cuts
There will be no full-time job cuts in Guernsey's Health and Social Services department (HSSD) despite a £3m cut in the 2010 budget, a minister has said.
Deputy Hunter Adam said it would be hard for his department to stay within budget, but permanent jobs were safe.
Instead he said vacant posts and agency and short term contract staff, who filled in for permanent workers, might not be replaced immediately.
The department was given a total cash limit of £101.25m in the 2010 budget.
Deputy Adam said: "quite a number" of agency staff were short term appointments to fill in gaps where necessary.
He added: "Our staff who are employed full time are quite safe."
The States of Guernsey faces a shortfall in its overall budget of £42m in 2010.
Deputy Adam, the island's Health and Social Service minister, said: "Since the HSSD budget is about 36% of [all States spending], we as members of the department must be responsible and... try to assess and control our expenditure.
"Medicine will suck in all the money you are wishing to give it and ask for more afterwards."
He said that although there was not much "fat" within the HSSD, senior managers were tackling what he termed the "little inefficiencies" within the department in order to save money.