AAP


The NSW opposition has condemned possible staff cuts at two Sydney children's hospitals.


The health service agreement for the Sydney Children's Hospital Network, which covers the Children's Hospital at Westmead and the Sydney Children's Hospital at Randwick, shows the need for a $3.3 million saving in labour expenses, News Ltd reports.


That figure adds up to 135 full-time jobs over a four-year period, it says.


Opposition Leader John Robertson was quick to condemn funding cuts to children's hospitals.


"Nothing should be more important than providing top quality medical care and support services for our state's sickest children and their families," Mr Robertson said in a statement on Tuesday.


"Cutting funding for children's hospitals is a new low for the O'Farrell Government."


Comment was being sought from the government.


Elizabeth Koff, chief executive of the Sydney Children's Hospital Network, said it was wrong to assume that jobs would be lost.


"The Sydney Children's Hospital Network budget has not been cut this year, it has increased by 2.9 per cent," Ms Koff said in a statement.


"It is not correct to assume that the whole of government labour expense cap will result in job losses in Sydney Children's Hospital Network.


"Savings do not necessarily equate to positions lost as they may include smarter ways of working and lessening the reliance on contractors and locums and other unnecessary expensive labour costs."


Greens MP John Kaye said if jobs were lost at children's hospitals it would be "catastrophic".