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Health service savings consultation launched Health service savings consultation launched
(about 2 hours later)
Health trusts are unveiling £70m of cost-saving proposals that the public will have the opportunity to respond to in the coming weeks. Health trusts have unveiled £70m of cost-saving proposals that the public will have the opportunity to respond to in the coming weeks.
The public consultation of saving plans is an unprecedented move for trusts.The public consultation of saving plans is an unprecedented move for trusts.
The five trusts have been asked to deliver the savings by the Department of Health.The five trusts have been asked to deliver the savings by the Department of Health.
The proposals were unveiled in meetings across the five trusts at 12:00 BST on Thursday. The proposals were unveiled in five meetings across Northern Ireland at 12:00 BST on Thursday.
Each trust can act independently and have their own set of proposals, which are to be published shortly. Each trust can act independently and have published their own set of proposals.
Figures shared at the public meetings suggested that the Belfast Health Trust must save £26.3m, the Western Health Trust £12.5m and the Northern Health Trust £13m. Out of the almost £70m overall, the trusts have individually been asked to save:
The Belfast Trust has outlined a number of measures to save the figure required including: While each trust have made their plans independently, some common themes have emerged such as the cutting of agency or locum staff and a reduction of non-urgent elective surgery.
The Belfast Trust proposals could mean the closure of around 100 bed places while the Northern Trust has also suggested closing two wards in Whiteabbey Hospital.
The proposals could be reversed should the Stormont government return and a health minister be appointed.The proposals could be reversed should the Stormont government return and a health minister be appointed.
The power-sharing institutions collapsed in January and Northern Ireland has been without a devolved government, or a health minister, since.The power-sharing institutions collapsed in January and Northern Ireland has been without a devolved government, or a health minister, since.
'Redundancies''Redundancies'
Former health minister Michael McGimpsey said the consultation was "a drop in the ocean" compared to what was needed.Former health minister Michael McGimpsey said the consultation was "a drop in the ocean" compared to what was needed.
"We have the worst waiting times in the UK and they are spiralling out of control," said the former Ulster Unionist MLA."We have the worst waiting times in the UK and they are spiralling out of control," said the former Ulster Unionist MLA.
"About 75% of the budget goes on wages of staff, and I imagine we will be looking at redundancies.""About 75% of the budget goes on wages of staff, and I imagine we will be looking at redundancies."
Public meetings took place at Knockbracken Healthcare Park in Belfast, Craigavon Hospital, Ulster Hospital, Antrim Area Hospital and Altnagelvin Hospital.Public meetings took place at Knockbracken Healthcare Park in Belfast, Craigavon Hospital, Ulster Hospital, Antrim Area Hospital and Altnagelvin Hospital.
The public will now have the opportunity to comment on the draft savings during a six-week consultation.The public will now have the opportunity to comment on the draft savings during a six-week consultation.
Analysis: A dire catalogue of proposalsAnalysis: A dire catalogue of proposals
Asking the public to decide where the axe should fall in Health and Social care is as bizarre as it is cruel.Asking the public to decide where the axe should fall in Health and Social care is as bizarre as it is cruel.
It is also unprecedented.It is also unprecedented.
The local service has been struggling, but this latest measure is further indication of the somewhat precarious position that the system is currently in.The local service has been struggling, but this latest measure is further indication of the somewhat precarious position that the system is currently in.
And the plans unveiled by the Belfast Health Trust represent a dire catalogue of proposals.And the plans unveiled by the Belfast Health Trust represent a dire catalogue of proposals.
Read more: 'Cruel' public consultation on cutsRead more: 'Cruel' public consultation on cuts
The Department of Health said the "financial challenge remains significant due to inflation, an increasing and ageing population and the cost of new treatments and patient expectations".The Department of Health said the "financial challenge remains significant due to inflation, an increasing and ageing population and the cost of new treatments and patient expectations".
"The Health and Social Care service cannot spend money it does not have and savings must be applied to this year's budget in order to achieve financial balance in 2017/2018," said the department."The Health and Social Care service cannot spend money it does not have and savings must be applied to this year's budget in order to achieve financial balance in 2017/2018," said the department.
"In this financial year, trusts are required to generate plans to deliver savings of £70m in order to address the funding gap.""In this financial year, trusts are required to generate plans to deliver savings of £70m in order to address the funding gap."
What remains unclear is what will happen in the eventuality of an executive not being in place by the end of the consultation period.What remains unclear is what will happen in the eventuality of an executive not being in place by the end of the consultation period.
No executive means no health minister to make decisions, meaning power may lie with the permanent secretary of the Department Health to implement temporary measures.No executive means no health minister to make decisions, meaning power may lie with the permanent secretary of the Department Health to implement temporary measures.
Of course, another scenario may include the role of a direct rule minister.Of course, another scenario may include the role of a direct rule minister.
In 2014, the Department of Health attempted to make cuts but the targeting of local services resulted in public protests and the threat of judicial reviews.In 2014, the Department of Health attempted to make cuts but the targeting of local services resulted in public protests and the threat of judicial reviews.
Many of the proposals were reversed, with then DUP Health Minister Edwin Poots saying he could not implement the cuts as they threatened patient safety.Many of the proposals were reversed, with then DUP Health Minister Edwin Poots saying he could not implement the cuts as they threatened patient safety.
The £70m of cuts being sought this time may sound considerable but, as part of an annual budget of £5bn, the figure is conservative.The £70m of cuts being sought this time may sound considerable but, as part of an annual budget of £5bn, the figure is conservative.
Nevertheless, health trust executives would prefer to be spending £70m, as opposed to cutting services.Nevertheless, health trust executives would prefer to be spending £70m, as opposed to cutting services.