News / NI to make 'monumental' savings

Savings in pharmaceutical expenditure, more out of hospital care and improved productivity will deliver the bulk of the £344m efficiency savings required by Northern Ireland’s health and social care services over the next three years, health minister Michael McGimpsey has said.

The minister acknowledged the 3% efficiency target was challenging but he insisted it would not result in poorer patient services.

‘It is a monumental amount of money to squeeze from a system that is already operating within limited resources,’ he told members of the Northern Ireland Assembly’s health committee.

‘Difficult decisions will have to be made. I am very clear, though, that the delivery of the best possible care for patients is at the forefront of my mind throughout this process. There will only be change if it is change for the better.’

He added that 84% of the target would be achieved through savings in pharmaceutical expenditure, procurement initiatives, administration costs through the Review of Public Administration and improved productivity.

Care would be moved out of hospital and he was confident job losses would be achieved without compulsory redundancies. However, he acknowledged the need to make the service more efficient.

‘Our productivity is improving, most notably in the significant reduction in waiting times for surgery, diagnostic and outpatients appointments. The reality is that, no matter how efficient we become, patients and clients won’t get the same standard as in England unless we address the significant funding gap with which we are faced,’ he added.

Local trusts will consult on their individual proposals over the next five months.