QUEEN Mary’s Hospital has revealed the extent of the drastic measures needed to save the trust from financial catastrophe.

Management announced on Monday that 190 jobs will have to be lost to save two thirds of the debt the Sidcup hospital has accrued.

And despite assurances less than a month ago that the jobs of "hands-on" patient care staff were safe, the hospital now says 103 nursing, including midwifery and lower grade positions, will be axed.

Chief executive Kate Grimes admitted: "This is going to be very difficult for staff. We are fully committed to avoiding compulsory redundancy. However, with the scale of the savings needed, we know we may not have an option."

The hospital is facing a deficit of £13million by the end of this financial year and has been reviewing its services to improve efficiency and reduce spending.

It will now launch a public consultation on the cuts needed. The aim is to re-deploy staff where possible and to create new jobs by entirely re-structuring its workforce.

Hospital consultant Ali Bokhari said: "It may actually mean we can provide a better service this way."

But one nurse, who had been assured her job was secure, said: "It’s a total shock. From one day to the next we don’t know what is happening. I came here thinking I had a job for life and I now I don’t know what will happen to me."

* FOR THE FULL STORY SEE THIS WEEK'S BEXLEY EXTRA.