HOSPITAL unions fighting job cuts say health bosses should demand more government cash rather than slash jobs and services.

The call came after health chiefs approved plans to axe 155 jobs and close two wards in a bid to cut the Royal Bolton Hospital Trust's £7.5 million debt.

The cash-strapped hospital Trust rubber stamped plans for job cuts and ward closures which were exclusively revealed in the Bolton Evening News on Monday night.

And plans to scrap a proposed multi-storey car park, which would have eased the hospital's parking problems, were also given the go-ahead.

UNISON's regional officer Chris Parkes said: "We are calling on every consultant and clinician at the hospital to say where they believe there is underfunding so we can work together to try to attack it. We aren't going to pretend there isn't a problem and bits and pieces can't be rearranged year-on-year."

Speaking at Monday night's board meeting, union representative Cathy Sykes said: "We believe the board should vigorously campaign with us to increase the funding to meet the healthcare needs of the people of Bolton."

She said unions believe that a large part of the hospital's massive debt is because the Trust has not received enough government funding.

Already the Trust has run up a £558,000 deficit in the first two months of this financial year.

But hospital unions are calling for management to campaign for more government funding rather than cutting services.

Ms Sykes, chairman of Staff Side, a group of employees with representatives from all the unions with members in the hospital, said: "The most important people to be considered during this exercise are the people receiving services from the Trust.

"The Staff Side welcomes the opportunity of consultation. It must be recognised, however, that over a number of years we have been advised that the Trust has been underfunded.

"The Staff Side is of the view that this is still true and that a large element of the debt may well be as a consequence of underfunding.

"We further recognise that agreement from the Staff Side to cuts in service could never be achieved, though genuine improvement in efficiency is welcomed."

Cllr Andy Morgan, who was also at the meeting, backed their calls. He said: "I acknowledge the amount of funding this government has put into the NHS, but they have also increased targets and the funding doesn't match that.

"The board needs to get off the fence now and campaign for more money."

Cutbacks include closing 26 beds for the elderly, the equivalent to an entire ward, closing a children's ward, not replacing five per cent of the workforce and shelving plans to build the multi-storey car park.

Hospital bosses insist the cuts have to be made and stress many of them will be achieved through increased efficiency and reducing the time people spend in hospital.

Chief executive David Fillingham said: "Everyone knows we have failed to balance the books for the past two years.

"This isn't easy to put together or to implement, but we want to preserve the safety and quality for patients and staff."

Chairman of the board Cliff Morris added: "It's important we keep people involved and that it what we have been doing."

Labour MP for Bolton South East Brian Iddon said: "Everyone knew efficiencies had to be made, but since I was elected in 1997 I have been complaining about consultants being the only people who can discharge patients.

"This is an extremely restrictive practice, which results in people who are well enough to go home staying in hospital."

Chief executive of Age Concern Bolton Gareth Evans said: "Whatever happens it's absolutely crucial that the well-beng of those patients is uppermost in people's minds and that there is consultation with the patients concerned, their families and those who care for them.

"We would want assurances that this would be the case."