NI savings stand-down
Northern Ireland’s Department of Finance found an extra £40m for local health and social care this financial year.
Local trusts had originally been consulting the public on measures to save £70m in year. But, with updated figures, the Department of Health said the additional funding would reduce the amount of savings needed to £52m.
As a result of the funding, the Belfast HSC Trust was able to stand down all but one of its major proposals – substituting expensive drug treatments for less expensive, clinically suitable and safe alternatives. This will be subject to further consideration.
The Northern HSC Trust was able to stand down all its major or controversial proposals except higher parking fees at acute hospital sites. All the ‘low impact’ in-year financial management proposals, amounting to total savings of £6.3m, will proceed as planned, it added.
The other three HSC trusts have taken similar steps to stand down plans that would have had a big impact on patient services. The additional funding is non-recurrent and the Department estimates the 2018/19 shortfall will be £430m.
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