NI health trusts to announce 12% savings plan

Northern Ireland's health and social care trusts are expected to announce proposals on how they intend to make savings of up to 12% over three years.

Health unions have told BBC News NI they understand jobs will be affected as the trusts attempt to make the savings. Those posts could include porter and cleaning posts.

To break even the system would have to make around 12% of savings in one year.

A recent health committee heard that the figure wasn't feasible and officials hoped that could be spread over several years.

The Department of Health (DoH) and the health trusts are expected to officially respond to how efficiencies could be tackled.

While the official line in the current climate is that efficiencies have to be made, unions describe the move more like cuts.

There are concerns that if there are fewer porters then other staff would be expected to pick up their work, such as bringing patients for X-rays and delivering food.

The £800m includes £300m to fund pay awards and the Real Living Wage for 2026-2027.

It means there is very little to fund service growth to cope with an ageing population and new drugs.

During a Stormont health committee meeting the DoH said it could not fund 12% efficiencies in a single year.

Plans on how it and the health trusts will make savings will be spelt out later.

John Compton, former chief executive of the Health and Social Care Board, told BBC Radio Ulster's Good Morning Ulster programme that achieving savings of 12% was probably an "undoable ask" in the time available.

He said trusts could rely on "cash control measures", including delaying replacing some staff who leave and controlling spending on community and elective care and deferring buying.

He said the figures were reflective of the failure to "get a proper budget sorted out" and the lack of a three-year budget.