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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Trust suspends private referrals | Trust suspends private referrals |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Patients being treated in the Belfast Health Trust will no longer be referred to the private sector for operations as part of a cost-cutting drive. | Patients being treated in the Belfast Health Trust will no longer be referred to the private sector for operations as part of a cost-cutting drive. |
| Patients throughout NI are often referred to private clinics for knee, hip, heart and cataract operations. | Patients throughout NI are often referred to private clinics for knee, hip, heart and cataract operations. |
| The Belfast Trust has commissioned 4,000 private operations this year but does not have the money for any more. | The Belfast Trust has commissioned 4,000 private operations this year but does not have the money for any more. |
| The Trust's chief executive William McKee said the move is temporary but will impact on waiting times. | The Trust's chief executive William McKee said the move is temporary but will impact on waiting times. |
| The Trust needs to save £130m over the next three years. | The Trust needs to save £130m over the next three years. |
| Earlier this week it emerged it may cut 152 beds at two hospitals in the city. | Earlier this week it emerged it may cut 152 beds at two hospitals in the city. |
| Surgery | |
| Meanwhile Health Minister Michael McGimpsey has approved savings proposed by the Northern Trust. | |
| Acute inpatient surgery will no longer be performed at Whiteabbey and Mid-Ulster hospitals, instead patients will be treated at Antrim and Causeway hospitals. | |
| The change will take effect by November. | |
| Day case surgery will continue at both hospitals and the number of day case operations should increase by 750 every year. | |
| The minister said: "I want to reassure individuals who have their surgery on a day case basis that more will be able to avail of services at the Mid Ulster and Whiteabbey Hospitals. | |
| "However, for complex surgery, which requires an overnight stay in hospital, patients will, in the future, have their operation at Antrim or Causeway or other hospitals where they will have access to specialist services such as intensive care if they need it." | |
| He also said an extra £500,000 a year will be made available to improve ambulance services in the Northern Trust area. |