THE number of health managers in south-east Essex is to be slashed by half under new Government targets.

In the last financial year (2009/10) there were 160 staff at NHS South East Essex who fell into the Department of Health’s definition of management costs.

These costs must now be reduced by 48 per cent by 2012/13 when primary care trusts are set to be abolished under the Government White Paper called Liberating the NHS.

Bosses say they are in discussion with affected staff and working to maintain staff morale.

The money saved must go back into patient care.

Chief executive Andrew Pike, speaking at NHS South East Essex’s annual general meeting, said: “Over the next two years we need to maintain our quality of service and morale of staff.

“We need to manage our money better and our management costs. We have to halve them by 2012, and this has to be handled very carefully and supportively.”

The savings were identified by Health Secretary Andrew Lansley who said in June: “ I want to see immediate action this year to reduce management costs so the savings made can be reinvested in NHS care for patients.”

Management costs in primary care trusts and strategic health authorities have increased nationally by more than £1billion since 2002/03, with more than £220million of the increase recorded in 2009/10.

The Government has set a target of a reduction of £850million by April 2013.

David Griffiths, director of finance for NHS South East Essex, said: “In 2009/10, 160 staff at the PCT’s commissioning arm and community healthcare fell into the Department of Health’s definition of “management costs”.

“Essex chief executives remain in discussions about how best to achieve the saving through sharing resources and reducing duplication, while continuing to improve local services.”