THE Liverpool president of a national trade union said staff cuts at the city’s hospitals are making it “impossible” for nurses to do their jobs.

Andrea Spyropoulos, president of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), was speaking ahead of the union’s annual congress at the Liverpool Echo Arena and BT convention centre, which begins today.

Her comments come as a Daily Post investigation found at least 465 workers – including nurses – have taken voluntary redundancy in Merseyside and north Cheshire since severance schemes were introduced last year.

The number was set to steadily increase as health trusts and hospitals continued to search for staff willing to leave.

The 56-year-old, who lives in Otterspool, said conversations with Liverpool union members had revealed serious problems.

“To their credit I expected them to talk to me about pay because they have had a lousy deal, but they took that on the chin,” she said.

“But they said there is just not enough nurses to deliver the care they want to deliver.

“You cannot have high-quality care on the cheap.

“The reduction and freezing of posts is causing disruption for patients, and it is making it impossible for nurses to do their jobs to the standard they expect to.

“They are taking a slash and burn approach, nurses are the solution, not the problem and can help make efficiencies.”

Mrs Spyropoulos began her career as a nurse cadet in 1973 at Sefton General Hospital. She is a trained midwife, worked as a senior lecturer at Liverpool John Moores University and has worked at various local hospitals including the Royal Liverpool.