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Concern over 722 nursing job cuts | |
(31 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 Hinds, said more nurses, not fewer, were needed. | |
But Health Minister Michael McGimpsey said he has to make 3% efficiency savings over the next three years. | |
Ms Hinds said losing frontline service staff would mean that patients would suffer as a result. | |
"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. |
Mr 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. |
Protection | |
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." |
Kieran McCarthy, Alliance Party, said news of the proposed cuts was "deeply worrying" . | |
"Nurses carry out massively important work and our health system would face great difficulty were it to lose these staff," he said. | |
"There should be no damaging cuts to vital frontline services." | |
Michele O'Neill, Sinn Féin, said her party would fight any attempt to cut frontline jobs. | |
"These are jobs that are essential to the function of a full and effective health service without which patient care will inevitably suffer. | |
"I think if you talk to any nurse they will very clearly tell you that both themselves and their colleagues are stretched. To lose 700 nurses is wholly unacceptable," she said. |