Health savings will not take effect until next financial year

A PROMISED annual saving of £600,000 made by cutting back on GP Out-of-hours in the western area will not be realised until 20011/12.
By The Newsroom
Published 5th Aug 2010, 10:41 BST

Health Minister Michael McGimpsey recently defended the reduction in GP Out-of-hours saying the 600,000 saved could pay for up to 50 heart operations.

Since July a reduced staff of three mobile doctors and a triage nurse have been operating the GP out-of-hours service during the Red-Eye Shift - between midnight and 8.30am - serving 293,000 people across the western area.

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But asked by SDLP MLA Tommy Gallagher to outline the estimated savings to be made on GP, nursing and administratiion costs Mr McGimpsey revealed that the savings made on doctors pay this year will be just 300,000.

He said this figure would rise to 600,000 in 20010/11. Estimated savings on nursing will amount to 45,000 this year and 90,000 for each financial year thereafter.

He stated: "There will be no savings in the financial year 2010/11 administration costs as a result of planned changes to the Out of Hours services."

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