HUNDREDS of staff fear their jobs may be in jeopardy if plans to privatise an NHS depot go ahead.

Staff at NHS Logistics, on the 20/20 industrial estate, Maidstone, fear the depot, which supplies consumable health-care products such as surgical items and stationery, to hospitals across Kent and as far as Bournemouth, will be one of six nationally facing jobs cuts.

If staff fears are realised, more than 300 jobs at the depot could be lost.

The news comes the same week it was announced 140 jobs have been lost at a Tonbridge printing firm, and less than a month after the Morrisons depot at Aylesford closed with the loss of 1,000 jobs.

NHS Logistics has been run by the NHS as a non-profit making organisation since 1986, but under new plans by the Department of Health, the services it provides are to be out-sourced to a private company, any time after March.

Health Minister Patricia Hewitt will make a decision at the end of March.

Unison branch secretary for Maidstone Paul Harper said the potential job cuts could lead to a rise in unemployment across west Kent.

“We have almost 300 people working at this depot and if we lose the jobs here, it will affect the area massively. Jobs have been cut at Morrisons, Co-op and now us, where are we going to work?”

“The majority of the staff here have worked at the depot for nearly 20 years, they’ve been here since it opened 17 years ago. That’s a whole network and family gone.”

“The staff here love working for the NHS. When the London bombings took place, staff came in to help get supplies to London, they were on their days off but the felt they needed to help and they gave 100 per cent effort and dedication to the job.”

“We feel questions have been left unanswered, we need to know and want to plan for the future. Hospitals could be affected, our hospitals are so important, we want to keep them that way.”

Printing and binding business TTB Hickeys, Tonbridge, called in administrators at the end of January with the loss of more than 100 jobs at two sites.

The established firm behind TTB Binders in Sovereign Way and TTB Print Finishers in Morley Way was said to have fallen foul of trading conditions.

Administrators Vantis are pursuing interest from potential buyers.