Health Minister approves Northern Trust efficiency savings proposals

Health Minister, Michael McGimpsey has now approved efficiency savings which have been proposed by the Northern Trust.

The Trust’s recommendations cover a range of proposals in relation to day care, learning disability and mental health services. As part of these proposals, the Northern Trust is to move acute inpatient surgery from Whiteabbey and Mid-Ulster hospitals to Antrim and Causeway hospitals by November. Day case surgery will continue at both hospitals and, in fact, the number of day case operations should increase by some 750 every year.

The Minister said: “My Department has to achieve an efficiency target of 3%, which equates to some £344million per annum by 2010/11 and £700million over three years. I have repeatedly said that is not an easy task and that this is all happening too fast. It means that a huge sum of money has to be found within the already limited funds available to health and social care services. However, these funds must be released if we are to ensure that vital life-saving and life-changing services are implemented over the next few years.

“Following careful scrutiny, I have approved these efficiency savings on the condition that the Trust will ensure that the quality of services, for their patients and clients, is maintained or improved. In addition, I expect that any impact on staff is managed appropriately and sensitively.”

Local services will continue to be developed at both Mid Ulster and Whiteabbey Hospitals including the completion of a £300,000 refurbishment of a 40-bed unit at the Mid-Ulster and the introduction of a CT scanner at Whiteabbey.

Medical and A&E services are not changing at this time and arrangements are in place for these services to be fully supported with rapid access to anaesthetic cover at all times.

The Minister continued: “These proposals will ensure that Mid-Ulster and Whiteabbey hospitals continue to develop and broaden the range of local services they provide to patients well into the future. In fact, more services will be delivered locally to more people.

“I have however been advised by the Trust that changes must happen in order to ensure that they are able to provide high quality, safe and sustainable services to patients. The Trust and the Health and Social Care Board considered the profile of surgical services and have concluded that it is simply not possible to sustain high quality inpatient surgical services at Mid Ulster or Whiteabbey Hospitals.

“I want to reassure individuals who have their surgery on a day case basis that more will be able to avail of services at the Mid Ulster and Whiteabbey Hospitals. However, for complex surgery, which requires an overnight stay in hospital, patients will, in the future, have their operation at Antrim or Causeway or other hospitals where they will have access to specialist services such as intensive care if they need it.

“I also have had the opportunity to see the newly refurbished areas in Mid-Ulster hospital which offers more space and privacy for patients. The increased number of single rooms will also contribute to a reduction in healthcare acquired infections.”

In addition, an investment is being made to strengthen ambulance services in the Northern Trust area.

Mr McGimpsey said: “To ensure that such services are available and responsive to local community needs I have invested an annual £0.5million to strengthen ambulance services in the Northern Trust area.”

Concluding the Minister said: “I want to acknowledge the commitment and dedication of healthcare staff working within the Northern Trust. I also want to reassure them that service changes, taking place over the coming weeks and months, will not lead to any compulsory redundancies for staff working at the two sites.

“I accept that a great deal of work is still necessary to plan and deliver these proposals. I have asked the Northern Trust to take this forward as a matter of urgency and with full consultation and engagement with the trade unions.”

Notes to editors:

1. Details of the Northern Trust’s efficiency savings proposals can be accessed via the following link: http://www.northerntrust.hscni.net

2. Press enquiries to DHSSPS press office on 028 90520636. Out of office hours please contact the duty press officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.