The NHS has denied reports that it will cut 30 per cent of its nursing wage bill in Greater Glasgow and Clyde. A report by the Herald newspaper in Scotland said that front line health workers will see cuts across Scotland's largest health board, in order to balance the books.

The NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde denies the report and stated: "NHS GGC has not written out to its staff offering a voluntary redundancy package. Voluntary redundancy was one of a number of initial options considered in June 2009 as part of early discussions on the development of a financial plan for 2010/11 however there is no specific fund to finance such packages. We are continuing to prepare our financial plan for 2010/11 which will not be finalised until March 2010.  We anticipate a break-even position will be achieved in this financial year - 2009/2010."

The report said that cutting 30 per cent of the nursing budget was just one of 300 proposals which were being offered, to save money. The nurses who would lose their jobs would then be replaced by unregistered nurses performing less complex duties.

They say they are still looking for people to work within the sector, and don't need to cut jobs: "We are continuing to fill vacancies as before. We have met trade union colleagues recently to discuss the future planning of our workforce. These are part of ongoing discussions held over a number of years as we restructure our workforce to deliver new modernised hospital services in Glasgow."