NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde says it has exhausted “softer” ways of saving money during the last two years and is having to consider “more radical options”.

The board has already considered offering staff voluntary redundancy but with a deficit for the next financial year potentially in excess of £60million, it is thought staff would get only the ­statutory minimum deal.

Elswhere, bosses at Grampian Health Board rolled out a redundancy scheme earlier this year.

Putting the expansion of treatment on hold next year has also been looked at by the GCC board.

Trade union Unison claims the “big idea” amongst a raft of around 300 proposals to save cash is cutting nursing numbers by 30% and rep­lacing them with unregis­tered nurses performing less complex duties.

Health board bosses have said a “skills mix” scheme would save £12m in nurses’ pay after a five year phase-in period.

The board has also discussed moving their HQ from Dalian House in Glas­gow’s Charing Cross and it is thought a site in the city’s Gartnavel Hospital is being looked at.

Rosslyn Crocket, nurse director for the board, said: “We have a unique opportunity to change this current skill mix and create a fully trained nursing workforce.”

But Matt McLaughlin of Unison union said: “Our members are working in an organisation having to make drastic cuts, this can only impact on frontline services.”