STAFF at Leighton Hospital and Victoria Infirmary are furious after reading comments from a Mid Cheshire Hospitals Trust spokesman regarding a service restructure.

Concerns were raised in last week's Guardian about nursing staff at Leighton Hospital having to reapply for existing roles in order to contribute to financial savings, but this was disputed by a trust spokesman.

Now a hospital staff member, who did not wish to be named, has spoken out against the comments.

He said: "Staff are being asked to fill in application forms and some with 20 years' service are being downgraded. It feels like a form of constructive dismissal.

"The Guardian story has been photocopied and handed around and one staff member of staff has highlighted the spokesman's comments, written 'lies and more lies' across it and sent it to the chief executive.

"Morale is low - I've seen sisters in tears."

The same is said to be happening at Northwich Victoria Infirmary.

An administrative staff member said: "We know we are in debt but it is the way they are going about it. Everyone is being displaced, from clerical staff downwards, and you have to reapply regardless of how long you've been here.

"I am incensed by the spokesman's comments. We were sent letters so how they can deny it I do not know."

A Mid Cheshire Hospitals Trust spokesman said: "The trust is not requiring all nurses at Leighton Hospital to reapply for their own jobs.

"The trust is currently looking at the way its staffing is structured. This may mean some existing posts may no longer be appropriate in a revised structure. The trust will need to ensure appropriate levels of staffing across all services.

"The closure of ward 11 in the surgical division and changes to the way in which the medical decisions unit operated, also affected nurses working in those two areas.

"Staff who previously worked on this ward and unit were reviewed against national standards and were offered alternative posts that were vacant in similar positions across the hospital.

"In addition, a review has begun with specialist nurses to ensure that all of their relevant skills and experience are used effectively within the revised structure.

"No decisions have been made about the future of individual posts."