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| Nursing job cuts plan 'worrying' | Nursing job cuts plan 'worrying' |
| (8 minutes later) | |
| Proposals to cut 722 nursing jobs across Northern Ireland are deeply concerning, the Royal College of Nurses has said. | Proposals to cut 722 nursing jobs across Northern Ireland are deeply concerning, the Royal College of Nurses has said. |
| The posts are under threat as part of wider plans to cut almost 2,500 health service jobs over the next three years. | The posts are under threat as part of wider plans to cut almost 2,500 health service jobs over the next three years. |
| The director of the Royal College of Nursing, Mary Heinz, said more nurses, not fewer, are needed. | The director of the Royal College of Nursing, Mary Heinz, said more nurses, not fewer, are needed. |
| She said losing frontline service staff would mean patients would suffer. | She said losing frontline service staff would mean patients would suffer. |
| "You can't get much more frontline than a nurse and we're gravely concerned about that impact on patient care," she said. | "You can't get much more frontline than a nurse and we're gravely concerned about that impact on patient care," she said. |
| "Nurses want to give good care to patients and we are concerned that the loss of these posts will have a detrimental effect on care." | "Nurses want to give good care to patients and we are concerned that the loss of these posts will have a detrimental effect on care." |
| Since October last year, when all Executive departments were told to make efficiency savings of up to 3% over the next three years, health trusts have been working out how best they can save money. | Since October last year, when all Executive departments were told to make efficiency savings of up to 3% over the next three years, health trusts have been working out how best they can save money. |
| It is proposed several hundred nursing jobs could go. | It is proposed several hundred nursing jobs could go. |
| Health Minister Michael McGimpsey said: "This is a matter for the Executive and the Executive is saying that, and it is a Treasury guideline, we must make 3% efficiencies over the next three years. | |
| "For me, with the biggest department, that means that I have to find £700m in efficiencies over the next three years. | "For me, with the biggest department, that means that I have to find £700m in efficiencies over the next three years. |
| "But through negotiation, all of that money, every single penny that comes out in efficiencies, will all go back in - it's all ring-fenced for health." | "But through negotiation, all of that money, every single penny that comes out in efficiencies, will all go back in - it's all ring-fenced for health." |
| On Tuesday, the assembly's health committee is to debate the Department of Health's proposals. | On Tuesday, the assembly's health committee is to debate the Department of Health's proposals. |
| The committee is calling for the budgets for the most vulnerable groups, including children and people with mental illness, to be protected. | The committee is calling for the budgets for the most vulnerable groups, including children and people with mental illness, to be protected. |
| The SDLP's Carmel Hanna said: "The most important thing to do this week is to establish the principle that frontline care provision for the most vulnerable in our society must be inviolable." | The SDLP's Carmel Hanna said: "The most important thing to do this week is to establish the principle that frontline care provision for the most vulnerable in our society must be inviolable." |