Secretaries working at the two west Kent hospitals are facing job changes.

Managers say there will be no redundancies among administration and clerical staff at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells Hospitals but would not be drawn on claims that workers face salary cuts and demotion.

All those affected are invited to consultation meetings, the next of which will be held on Tuesday, July 30.

Last year, Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust, which is struggling to repay the Private Finance Initiative it paid to build the new Pembury hospital, asked all its 5,000 employees to consider applying for redundancy – but just 20 did. The trust needs to save between £15m and £20m for the next three years.

Trust management described the proposed job changes as improving services to benefit both patients and staff.

Director of strategy and workforce Paul Bentley said: “Staff from our administration and clerical teams are helping the trust develop new ways of working that provide our patients with a more efficient and effective service that continues to best meet their needs.

“Work is at an early stage, staff ideas are being developed and no decisions have been made.

"We can say, however, that no redundancies will take place as part of the improvements we are seeking and staff will be closely involved.”