Vulnerable groups to benefit most from spending plans - McGimpsey

Children, the elderly and those with a mental health problem or learning disability will all benefit from increased investment over the next three years.

Speaking during an Assembly debate on efficiency savings, Health Minister, Michael McGimpsey said that over the Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) period he had focused on investing in services for the most vulnerable groups in society.

He said: “Every department has to make 3% efficiency savings. My department is not exempt and must achieve some £700million over the three year CSR period. This will not be an easy task, however, it has been agreed by the Executive and I have no choice and must find the savings within my already limited budget.

“If we do not release these funds then we cannot take forward a range of life-saving and life-changing service developments such as the introduction of bowel cancer screening, hundreds more cardiac procedures and 2,000 packages of respite and community care. I cannot allow this to happen, particularly when I had to fight so hard to get extra money as part of the budget settlement.”

Addressing concerns over proposals to reduce the number of nursing posts, the Minister said: “I want to first make it clear that I plan to avoid compulsory redundancies as these posts will be reduced through turnover in the workforce. We are delivering more and more services to people in their own home. This allows us to reduce our reliance on hospitals and means we require fewer staff to do this. I also want to assure everyone that no nurse will be able to come out of the health service until new services are in place. Patient safety must come first.”

Turning to the subject of the motion which called for ring-fenced funding for mental health, learning disability, elderly and children’s services, he said: “To exempt these areas from efficiency savings would rule out well over £1billion pounds of our budget from efficiency plans. I cannot do that. My budget is limited and I must ensure every penny is spent wisely. However, I would like to assure members that increased funding for these vital services has been ring-fenced and will deliver real improvements.

“These are services which have suffered from many years of under investment. Therefore I have now ensured resources have been targeted on improving these services over the CSR period including:

• 17 % increase for mental health and 16% increase for learning disability to help drive the Bamford recommendations forward.
• 13% increase for elderly services;
• 16% increase for children services; and
• 14% increase for physical or sensory disability services.”

Trusts proposals are now out for formal consultation and the Minister said that if the consultation process does not produce clear positions, final decisions will rest with him.

He said: “Our health and social care service is becoming more efficient. We are already saving millions of pounds through the RPA reform, generic prescribing, treating people in the community instead of hospital, as well as improved preventative measures.

“There will be significant reductions in administrative staff across the board. For example, the number of senior executives has been cut from 137 to 40 by reducing the number of trusts. Taken together, these measures will result in annual administrative savings of £53million.

“However, does anyone really believe that in an organisation with a budget of £4 billion, saving on postage, travel expenses or ground maintenance is going to deliver the £700m we are required to achieve?

“I want to reassure members that any change in services will be handled carefully and sensitively. I will fully consider the local circumstances and will expect viable alternatives to be in place which provide an equivalent or better standards of care.

“This is a time of immense change for health and social care but that change needs to happen if we are to deliver the world-class health service which everyone deserves.”

Notes to Editors:

1. The Minister’s speech is available for download from the Department for Health, Social Services and Public Safety website
2. Media enquiries to 028 9052 0579. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Office via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.