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Assembly backs health jobs motion | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
The assembly has called on the health minister to ensure that efficiency savings within the health service do not affect frontline services. | |
The Royal College of Nursing has said it is deeply concerned about proposals which would mean 722 nursing posts being lost. | |
No-one opposed a motion calling for no cuts to frontline services. | |
However, the debate highlighted the party political divisions that the issue opens up. | |
The chair of the health committee Iris Robinson said it was not a question of political point scoring. | |
"The committee has identified the three most vulnerable groups in our society - children, people with mental health problems and older people, and it is calling for the budgets for these to be ring-fenced and protected," she said. | |
But Health Minister Michael McGimpsey argued he had to find savings of £700m and claimed some members no longer seemed to back what he called the inadequate health budget they had supported last January. | |
"I only wish they had spoken so passionately when the budget was being debated and perhaps there would have been a very different settlement," he said. | |
Concern | |
Earlier, the director of the Royal College of Nursing, Mary Hinds, said she was very concerned about the possible loss of nursing jobs. | |
She said more nurses, not fewer, were needed. | |
Ms Hinds said losing frontline service staff would mean that patients would suffer as a result. | 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. | 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." |