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Trust suspends private referrals Trust suspends private referrals
(about 5 hours 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 because the Trust cannot afford them.
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, helping to reduce waiting lists.
The Trust's Chief Executive William McKee said the move was temporary but would impact on waiting times. The trust's Chief Executive William McKee said the move was temporary but it would impact on waiting times.
"It doesn't appear, at this stage, we have enough money to meet the activity we were able to do last year," he said. The Vice Chair, Eileen Evason, said the health service was "in real trouble".
The Belfast Trust has commissioned 4,000 private operations this year. She said: "I don't think we can manage financially. We cannot sustain the service unless we get help and get it soon."
The Belfast Trust paid for 7,000 private operations last year and commissioned another 4,000 so far this year.
'Hard choices'
Mr McKee said: "It doesn't appear, at this stage, we have enough money to meet the activity we were able to do last year."
He told BBC Radio Ulster: "This is hopefully a brief pause while we take stock of how much money is available and how much more we can do internally."
He admitted that the trust was finding things "very difficult" financially and said hard choices would have to be made.
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.