More than 300 jobs could go at Peterborough City Hospital trust as part of scheme to save nearly £10 million
More than 300 jobs could go at the trust that runs Peterborough City, Hinchingbrooke and Stamford hospitals as part of a cash saving scheme.
North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust (NWANHSFT) is looking for staff who were set to retire – or leave – to sign up to a ‘Mutually agreed resignation scheme.’
A mutually agreed resignation scheme (MARS) is a form of voluntary severance, designed to enable employees, in agreement with their employer, to choose to leave their employment voluntarily in return for a severance payment.
It is hoped the voluntary scheme will see around 350 people sign up – which would save the trust £9.9 million.
The scheme is voluntary, so no enforced redundancies are taking place.
The Peterborough Telegraph has asked the trust what would happen if fewer than 350 staff sign up to the scheme.
Patients are being re-assured that services will not be affected.
“This difficult but necessary step has been taken to ensure we can meet the expectations set out in the NHS 10 Year Plan and by our commissioners."
Hannah Coffey, Chief Executive Officer at North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Peterborough City, Hinchingbrooke and Stamford and Rutland Hospitals, said described the move as ‘difficult but necessary – and praised staff for how they have responded.
She said: “In keeping with many other NHS Trusts, our board has taken the decision to run this voluntary scheme which offers severance payments for staff who can make a personal choice to resign.
“This difficult but necessary step has been taken to ensure we can meet the expectations set out in the NHS 10 Year Plan and by our commissioners.
“In simple terms, the NHS is increasingly moving away from a model that relies heavily upon hospital-based care, and is focusing more on supporting people closer to home, preventing illness, and delivering more services in community settings. To do this, we need to reshape how we work and how our workforce is structured, so we can continue to provide safe, high-quality care in a way that is both affordable and sustainable for the future.
“Throughout this process, we will ensure that patient safety remains our absolute priority and that our staff are well communicated with and supported appropriately.
“I would like to thank our colleagues across our hospitals for the professional way they have responded.”
The scheme was announced in board papers, which read: “The Committee noted the proposal to implement the MARS Scheme in Q1–Q2 2026/27 to support workforce and pay cost reductions within the Medium-Term Plan, delivering estimated in-year savings of £9.9m and reduction up to 350 WTE, with a time-bound launch planned for May 11 2026 and closing on 31 May. Discussion focused on the balance between fairness and operational risk in opening the scheme broadly, with broad support for maximising eligibility while protecting service continuity and clearly communicating medical staff exclusion. It was noted that a comprehensive communications and governance approach is in place, including manager briefings, staff support materials, panel oversight and external stakeholder management.”