18/04/2002
NI Health Service remains underfunded compared to UK
Northern Ireland’s Health Minister Bairbre de Brún has given Gordon Brown’s 2002 Budget a cautious welcome, but stressed an extra £300 million is needed next year if the department is to tackle the crisis facing hospitals across the province.
Yesterday, the UK Chancellor announced that the Health Services in Northern Ireland was set to receive an extra £2.7 billion over the next five years.
Speaking on Thursday April 18 Ms de Brún said: “This is a significant increase to our planning figures and this once again demonstrates the compelling argument for the major share of all available resources to be allocated to the Health and Personal Social Services.”
However, the Minister added: “The NHS in England is under pressure, but it is clear that the Health and Personnel Social Services here are under greater pressure.
“Due in part to the inadequacies of the Barnett formula, resources here have simply not kept pace with increasing needs for many years and this is impacting on people from all backgrounds.”
According to an analysis of the Department of Health’s funding levels, prepared jointly with the Department of Finance and Personnel and the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister, services in NI are underfunded by some £300 million in comparison to England.
“The Health and Personal Social Services therefore needs very large increases if we are to close the gap with England and address current deficiencies, and deliver improved services,” the Minister said.
“As a result of the underfunding which currently exists here, the planned increases announced for health by Chancellor Brown, if directly applied here, would be barely sufficient to maintain existing levels of provision.
"If I am to begin to address the highest priority developmental needs, further resources of over £300 million will be required next year. This is a very major challenge for the Executive and the Assembly and will require difficult decisions about the use of existing resources. This is a challenge which we must face up to.”
(AMcE)
Yesterday, the UK Chancellor announced that the Health Services in Northern Ireland was set to receive an extra £2.7 billion over the next five years.
Speaking on Thursday April 18 Ms de Brún said: “This is a significant increase to our planning figures and this once again demonstrates the compelling argument for the major share of all available resources to be allocated to the Health and Personal Social Services.”
However, the Minister added: “The NHS in England is under pressure, but it is clear that the Health and Personnel Social Services here are under greater pressure.
“Due in part to the inadequacies of the Barnett formula, resources here have simply not kept pace with increasing needs for many years and this is impacting on people from all backgrounds.”
According to an analysis of the Department of Health’s funding levels, prepared jointly with the Department of Finance and Personnel and the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister, services in NI are underfunded by some £300 million in comparison to England.
“The Health and Personal Social Services therefore needs very large increases if we are to close the gap with England and address current deficiencies, and deliver improved services,” the Minister said.
“As a result of the underfunding which currently exists here, the planned increases announced for health by Chancellor Brown, if directly applied here, would be barely sufficient to maintain existing levels of provision.
"If I am to begin to address the highest priority developmental needs, further resources of over £300 million will be required next year. This is a very major challenge for the Executive and the Assembly and will require difficult decisions about the use of existing resources. This is a challenge which we must face up to.”
(AMcE)
Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
06 July 2022
DUP Accused Of Blocking Health Service Reform
The DUP's refusal to return to the Assembly and Executive is blocking health service reform, SDLP Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath has said. Mr McGrath said long-overdue reform was being delayed because of the DUP’s boycott of the institutions and that patients would suffer as a result.
DUP Accused Of Blocking Health Service Reform
The DUP's refusal to return to the Assembly and Executive is blocking health service reform, SDLP Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath has said. Mr McGrath said long-overdue reform was being delayed because of the DUP’s boycott of the institutions and that patients would suffer as a result.
03 May 2024
Health Minister Welcomes New GP-Led Lung Health Service
Health Minister Robin Swann has welcomed the launch of a new GP-led service to improve lung health in the Armagh/Dungannon area. The innovative Early Respiratory Diagnostic Hub, based at Moy Health Centre, will serve thousands of patients from 23 General Practice surgeries through the provision of accessible and advanced lung function testing.
Health Minister Welcomes New GP-Led Lung Health Service
Health Minister Robin Swann has welcomed the launch of a new GP-led service to improve lung health in the Armagh/Dungannon area. The innovative Early Respiratory Diagnostic Hub, based at Moy Health Centre, will serve thousands of patients from 23 General Practice surgeries through the provision of accessible and advanced lung function testing.
15 March 2024
Health Minister Outlines Priorities For NI Health Service
Health Minister Robin Swann has outlined his department's priorities for Northern Ireland's health service to MLAs. Minister Swann has said that "with the right combination of ambition, funding and joined up political leadership" NI's health and social care services can be turned around.
Health Minister Outlines Priorities For NI Health Service
Health Minister Robin Swann has outlined his department's priorities for Northern Ireland's health service to MLAs. Minister Swann has said that "with the right combination of ambition, funding and joined up political leadership" NI's health and social care services can be turned around.
21 September 2004
Minister drills home tooth decay problem
Health Minister Angela Smith has launched a consultation document aimed at improving the state of people's teeth in Northern Ireland. The Oral Health Strategy is a 10-year plan which aims to improve the oral health of the entire population and reduce inequalities.
Minister drills home tooth decay problem
Health Minister Angela Smith has launched a consultation document aimed at improving the state of people's teeth in Northern Ireland. The Oral Health Strategy is a 10-year plan which aims to improve the oral health of the entire population and reduce inequalities.
05 June 2025
PHA And CDHN Launch Programme To Tackle Health Inequalities
The Public Health Agency (PHA) is encouraging community and voluntary organisations across Northern Ireland to apply for its Elevate Mentoring and Grants programme, designed to help tackle health inequalities at a local level. The programme, coordinated by the Community Development and Health Network (CDHN), is now open for applications.
PHA And CDHN Launch Programme To Tackle Health Inequalities
The Public Health Agency (PHA) is encouraging community and voluntary organisations across Northern Ireland to apply for its Elevate Mentoring and Grants programme, designed to help tackle health inequalities at a local level. The programme, coordinated by the Community Development and Health Network (CDHN), is now open for applications.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A sunny but frosty start for many. However cloud increases by midday with a few showers reaching the north coast, these mostly light but spreading inland this afternoon. Chilly. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:A rather cloudy evening with scattered showers. Becoming drier through the night with some good clear spells developing and a patchy frost away from coasts. Minimum temperature 0 °C.