The breakdown of health service cuts revealed

The scale of cuts to the Health Service, – a service that’s supposed to be ring fenced but now subject to lower rates of  investment – is  revealed  by a union-sponsored  website False Economy  and extracted by the Guardian’s Data Blog. The info is collated  from FoI requests throughout the UK . A long scroll down reveals the damage to NI services  – a total of over 2,500 posts. They included 280 posts in the ambulance service Of these at least 132 and medical and dental posts and 763 are in nursing. The southern board does not break the categories of posts  cut. Further up the listit is It should be emphasised that these appear to be historic figures applying mainly for the financial year about to end. It does not deal with 2011/12 and subsequent.

280    Northern Ireland Ambulance Service AMB     44 WTE reduction in funded establishment in 2010/11 (3.57% of total), comprising 22 WTE paramedics and 22 WTE emergency medical technicians, all through vacancy freezing and natural wastage. The reduction is the equivalent of 4 x 24/7 (35,040 hours) per annum of traditional double crewed A&E Ambulance cover. This reduction was offset by an investment of the equivalent of 10 x 24/7 (87,600 hours) per annum of single manned Rapid Response Vehicles introduced prior to 2010/11. This investment increased the funded establishment by 60 WTE Paramedic posts.

377    Western Health and Social Care Trust NI    289 WTE post reduction in 2010/11: Medical – 12; Nursing – 143; Allied Health Professionals – 12; Admin/Management – 62; Social Services – 36; Professional and Technical – 12; Ancillary and General – 12. In addition the Trust is required to save on a non-recurring basis £5.9 million from temporary/bank/agency staffing. The Trust is unable to give a WTE equivalent as the target relates to expenditure reductions as opposed to number of posts. Future years to be determined following October 20th Spending Review.     289

378    Belfast Health and Social Care Trust NI    1,755 WTE net post reduction in 2010/11. 1,855 WTE (9%) gross post reduction, including temporary, bank and agency staff who make up around 5% of the total workforce. Medical & Dental – 120; Nursing – 620; Social Services – 185; Ancillary & General – 320; Professional & Technical – 325; Admin & Clerical – 285. Investment for additional clinical staff in the order of 100 WTE has been provided to the Trust in 2010/11. 1755

379     Northern Health and Social Care Trust NI     88.73 WTE post reduction in 2009/10. No further information available.

380    South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust NI    200 WTE indicative post reduction in 2010/11. The posts will be spread across the whole of the organisation, although the Trust will ensure that the impact on frontline services is minimised as far as possible.    200

381     Southern Health and Social Care Trust NI     The Trust has not been advised of any funding position post-2011 or any specific efficiency savings to be delivered during that period.

But, southern board,  what about about 2010/11 and 2009/10?

Brian Walker

Former BBC journalist and manager in Belfast, Manchester and London, Editor Spolight; Political Editor BBC NI; Current Affairs Commissioning editor BBC Radio 4; Editor Political and Parliamentary Programmes, BBC Westminster; former London Editor Belfast Telegraph. Hon Senior Research Fellow, The Constitution Unit, Univ Coll. London