Northern Ireland's health trusts are preparing to announce a plan to achieve 12% in savings within a year to address a significant funding gap of £800 million. Officials had previously indicated that such a drastic saving measure might not be feasible in a single year and had hoped to spread it over a longer period.
The Department of Health (DoH) and the health trusts are expected to outline how these efficiencies will be tackled. Health unions have voiced concerns to BBC News NI that the savings plan could affect jobs, potentially impacting roles such as porters and cleaning staff. Unions have described the move not as efficiencies but as cuts.
There are also concerns that if support roles like porters are reduced, other staff members may have to assume their duties, such as transporting patients for X-rays or delivering meals. The £800 million funding shortfall includes £300 million designated for pay awards and the Real Living Wage for 2026-2027, leaving limited resources for service expansion to accommodate an aging population and new medical treatments.
During a meeting of the Stormont health committee, the DoH acknowledged that it could not fund 12% efficiencies in a single year. The exact details of how the DoH and the health trusts intend to implement these savings are expected to be revealed soon. A primary concern is the potential impact these measures could have on inpatient care.