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Health service savings consultation launched | Health service savings consultation launched |
(about 2 hours later) | |
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 five meetings across Northern Ireland at 12:00 BST on Thursday. | |
Each trust can act independently and have published their own set of proposals. | |
Out of the almost £70m overall, the trusts have individually been asked to save: | |
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 proposals | Analysis: 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 cuts | Read 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. |