South Metropolitan Health Service

Health services are under serious attack in WA, with the Health Department asking hospitals to finalise 鈥渂udget management strategies鈥 by the end of January. Amid claims of massive cuts to funding, hospitals in Perth are bracing for staff cuts. The Health Services Union (HSU) expects about 500 jobs to be shed at Royal Perth Hospital and similar numbers at Fiona Stanley Hospital. The union says its previous predictions of about 1000 job cuts 鈥渁cross the board鈥 now appeared 鈥渃onservative鈥 and job uncertainty is causing widespread stress.