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Poots outlines major review of NI health services NI acute hospital numbers cut in major health review
(40 minutes later)
A major review of the health service in Northern Ireland is being outlined in the assembly by Health Minister Edwin Poots. A major review of the Health Service in Northern Ireland has said the number of acute hospitals will probably have to fall from 10 to five.
The review, by John Compton, is expected to be the biggest in recent years and has been forecast to be controversial and radical. Acute hospitals are those providing A&E services and emergency surgery.
Of the 99 recommendations, the one most likely to trigger debate is the reduction in the number of hospitals. The review said that elsewhere in the UK a population the size NI would be served by just four acute hospitals.
The review suggests the number could be cut from 10 by 2016. Health Minister Edwin Poots said no decision had been made yet but hospitals would be assessed on clinical sustainability and patient safety.
He told the assembly on Tuesday: " It will be on that basis that we will be able to determine whether an acute hospital would be viable."
Reducing the number of acute hospitals from 10 to 5 would not necessarily mean closing five hospitals. The hospitals which lose acute services would still exist but would provide different services.
'Safe and effective'
The review also recommends that much greater emphasis should be placed on treating people in their own homes and in the community.
The minister said there would be "a significant shift" from provision of services in hospitals into GP surgeries where it was "safe and effective to do this".
To pay for that, £83m will be taken out of hospital services and put into community care.
The minister said the review was not about cost-cutting but would mean a "significant shift" in where funding was allocated.
He also warned that the changes would not be straightforward and would require "fundamental changes" to the way services were delivered.
He said the changes would also require "substantial" re-training of staff.
The review recommended that transitional funding of £65m would be needed over the next three years to allow the changes to take place.