UNIONS fear jobs will be axed if cash-strapped Winchester health bosses go ahead with merger plans.

Bosses at the Winchester and Eastleigh NHS Trust, which runs the Royal Hampshire County Hospital, are considering joining forces with Mid Hampshire Primary Care Trust in a bid to cut a projected £5m deficit.

A report to trust bosses warns that jobs could go in order to balance the books.

Health bosses say the merger is about putting services first and costs second.

But Doug Smith, a joint union spokesman for staff at the Royal Hampshire County Hospital said staff were still concerned more posts would be axed to cut costs.

"We're keeping a close eye on it,'' he said. "The resolution we would like is the protection of jobs. This is having a major affect on services which causes a great deal of concern.

"Staff are being put under so much stress. They are under a great deal of pressure at the hospital with the targets we have to meet.''

At a meeting of the trust's board members it was discussed how the new partnership could have a joint chief executive overseeing both trusts. Currently both chief executives take home up to £110,000 a year.

As part of the proposal to merge a review of surgery would also be carried out. But at the board meeting fears were raised that it could lead to all surgery in the city being managed in Southampton.

Chris James, medical director at the Winchester and Eastleigh trust, said: "There is an assumption in some areas it's pretty much a decided outcome that Southampton will manage surgery services in this hospital. I don't believe this to be acceptable.''

A Royal Hampshire County Hospital spokesman said a takeover of surgical services by Southampton was "unlikely''.

Hospital chiefs have already tried cutting the deficit by proposing to sell off land which may include the Mount Hospital at Bishopstoke that closed controversially in September.

Trust chiefs have also announced plans to axe 100 posts at the hospital although to date only the chief executive's post has been earmarked for the chop.

Further discussion on the planned merger would take place at the next board meeting in December.