AROUND 80 jobs are to be cut at Airedale Hospital, which takes patients from Pendle, in a bid to plug an £11million hole in its finances.

The hospital, in Steeton near Keighley, employs 3,000 people.

Airedale NHS Foundation Trust said it aimed to avoid compulsory redundancies or axing frontline staff.

Staff have until May 6 to register for voluntary redundancy, after which compulsory job cuts could be made.

Natalie Ratcliffe, area organiser for Unison, said: “We have been in intense negotiation with the foundation but we are not happy with the timescale.

"It’s too quick. They want the whole programme over by June 6.”

She said the job losses would be mainly clerical and administrative but some nurses could go.

The news comes weeks after the main reception closed on week days as a cost-cutting exercise.

Bridget Fletcher, chief executive of the trust, said: “We do need to reduce costs as our financial forecast for 2011/12 shows we have an £11 million financial gap this year.

“This is an unsettling time for all staff and we will do our best to support them and ensure it is as straightforward as possible.”