NHS Warwickshire faces job cuts - with an awards ceremony

But NHS Warwickshire has defended holding the event, called The Sequel, insisting the prizes consist only of half-price chocolates, single roses and printed certificates.

The trust, which commissions hospital care and GP services in the county, will be phased out by summer 2013 and must find savings of more than £1.5 million – or 40 jobs – by April 2011 and a further £1.2 million over the next two years.

It is holding the event to enable staff to understand the Government’s ‘Liberating the NHS’ White Paper, which will result in GPs commissioning healthcare.

In an email to staff, chief executive Paul Jennings said it would enable staff to discuss, ask questions and make observations about the changes, get a sense of their roles and recognise the achievements and efforts of staff over the past year.

Communications director Martin Turner said he believed the event had only cost “a few thousand pounds” and the 14 awards amounted to half-price boxes of Roses, single flowers and a printed certificate, paid for by a director.

He defended holding the event at Warwick University, adding the trust’s Warwick headquarters at Westgate House was “too small”.

He said: “You can make any system more efficient, but the only way to do it is by getting everybody together.”