Latest news with #Nesbitt
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Dentists say funding plan will not transform services
The radical transformation needed for the survival of health service dentistry will not be delivered under proposals from the health minister, the British Dental Association (BDA) has said. On Wednesday Mike Nesbitt provided details of a £7m investment in general dental services for 2025-26. The chairwoman of the Northern Ireland Dental Practice Committee said dentists were "hoping for more" following the proposed dental funding. Ciara Gallagher said she understood the budgetary constraints Nesbitt was working under but was disappointed for patients and colleagues. Nesbitt also announced the expansion of the Happy Smiles programme. "Alongside these specific interventions, I am clear that the general dental services, as with other services, require sustained effort to ensure sustainability over the longer term," he said. "My department is committed to advancing work on the long-term future of dental services, to ensure patients can continue to access care when they need it, whilst taking measures to ensure the service is sustainable." Nesbitt said he had approved the commissioning of a review into the cost of general dental services, which should be completed by the end of 2026. He said this would "provide a robust evidence base to inform how the service will develop over the coming years". Ms Gallagher said the funding was "largely a continuation" of measures that were already in place and it would make "even more difficulties for patients to access care". "That's why we cannot recommend these proposals as they stand to the profession," she said. "We urgently need radical transformation of dental services here, but this isn't it. "Despite the efforts of the minister, our question to the executive is how can dentistry be transformed with such a constrained health budget?" Speaking to BBC Radio Foyle's North West Today programme, dentist Rachele Crozier said the hope was the "minister would do something that would help sustain and encourage people to remain in the NHS, and continue to provide NHS care". She said dentists needed more clarity on the funding. "There is not very much detail yet. Dentists don't really know how that funding will look, when it will come to us, how it is going to come to us," she said. The system in its current state, she added, is "teetering on the brink of collapse and ultimately it is patients who will suffer." The BDA has called for immediate short-term "bridging" support for dental practices as a lifeline to cover costs. This follows a meeting with the health minister who outlined his department's proposals for 2025-26 to BDA representatives, following a debate on access to dentistry in Stormont on 27 May. The BDA said that the "consensus is that the current dental contract isn't fit for purpose and in some instances fails to cover costs". In April, BBC News NI learned that dentists in Northern Ireland had removed more than 53,000 NHS patients from their practice lists over the past two years. During 2023 and 2024, 114 dentists handed back their NHS contracts to the Department of Health (DoH), with many of these now doing private work only. Out of the 360 dental practices in Northern Ireland, only two are now fully NHS. More than 53,000 NHS patients removed from dentist lists Dentists to 'shrink NHS element' to 'keep the lights on'
RTÉ News
5 days ago
- Health
- RTÉ News
Northern Ireland health service facing £600m budget shortfall
Northern Ireland's health service is expected to face a £600 million budget shortfall. Stormont Health Minister Mike Nesbitt described financial plans being finalised which will be "unprecedented in their scale and ambition" and involve "extremely difficult and painful savings measures". In a written statement to the Assembly, Mr Nesbitt said the projected £600 million is the "scale of the gap between existing funding and what's needed to maintain services". He told MLAs he will play his part and "do everything I can to achieve a breakeven budget", but also urged the Executive and the Assembly to support him. "My permanent secretary is finalising financial plans that will be unprecedented in their scale and ambition," he said. "They will involve an extremely difficult and indeed painful series of savings measures for HSC trusts. "I can assure the Assembly that I will drive forward savings to reduce the projected shortfall." "To repeat, I will play my part and do everything I can to achieve a breakeven budget. "But I will need Executive and Assembly support." Mr Nesbitt also confirmed he is ordering the paying of £200 million recommended pay increases despite not having the budget to cover it. It includes 3.6% for nurses and staff under Agenda for Change, 4% for doctors, and 4% plus £750 for resident doctors - formerly known as junior doctors. That requires a ministerial directive to be made to the department's permanent secretary to proceed despite not having the necessary budget. It will go to the Finance Minister, John O'Dowd, and potentially be passed to the Executive for approval. Mr Nesbitt told MLAs the move involves the risk of an overspend for the department, but that not paying the pay increases also involves risks. "There is an undeniable risk that the department could be on a path towards a potential overspend," he said. "I have also concluded that there are also substantial risks in not proceeding with the pay increases - the biggest risk is failing to deliver on my promise to deliver 'better outcomes'. "I do not want health service staff to be demoralised by inaction and another year of uncertainty on pay. They deserve better than that. This is about treating with respect the people who keep us healthy, fix us when we are broken and keep us alive when death becomes a potential outcome. "Falling behind pay levels across the water will also exacerbate challenges with recruitment and retention of health service staff." He added that pay parity with England for Agenda for Change staff is a "well-established and hard-fought principle" that he intends to maintain. "Failure to do so would undoubtedly lead to industrial action with all the disruption to patient care that will involve," he said. "Not to mention the negative impact on the focus to reduce waiting lists, or the overdue need to reform healthcare delivery. "In short, the risk of a potential budget overspend must be balanced against the significant risk to service provision." Potential for NI to have 'one fo the best health systems in the world' The new leader of Northern Ireland's Department of Health says there is potential for the region to have one of the best health systems in the world. Mike Farrar took up the position of permanent secretary in mid April, having previously held senior positions within the NHS in England. Mr Farrar emphasised while there are several big immediate challenges in the health service, he is optimistic about the future for the health service. He said around half of the £600m budget shortfall is in the health trusts where they have been running deficits, while £200m is to meet recommended pay increases for health workers and £66m for increased national insurance contributions. "That's come about largely because the budget that was voted for health this year really didn't have an allowance at the scale of the pay awards we're facing, and we haven't in the past I think, really pushed as hard as we are now pushing to get real efficiency out of the system," he said. "On my watch, we're going to take a stand and we're going to try to live within our means but that takes a while to do. "In the short term I need some support." He said they hope to reduce costs and improve services in some areas and said cuts which will impact services will be kept as a "last resort".
South Wales Argus
5 days ago
- Business
- South Wales Argus
Northern Ireland's health service facing projected £600m budget shortfall
Stormont Health Minister Mike Nesbitt described financial plans being finalised which will be 'unprecedented in their scale and ambition' and involve 'extremely difficult and painful savings measures'. In a written statement to the Assembly on Wednesday afternoon, Mr Nesbitt said the projected £600 million is the 'scale of the gap between existing funding and what's needed to maintain services'. Northern Ireland's health service is facing a budget shortfall (Liam McBurney/PA) He told MLAs he will play his part and 'do everything I can to achieve a breakeven budget', but also urged the Executive and the Assembly to support him. 'My permanent secretary is finalising financial plans that will be unprecedented in their scale and ambition,' he said. 'They will involve an extremely difficult and indeed painful series of savings measures for HSC trusts. 'I can assure the Assembly that I will drive forward savings to reduce the projected shortfall.' 'To repeat, I will play my part and do everything I can to achieve a breakeven budget. 'But I will need Executive and Assembly support.' Mr Nesbitt also confirmed he is ordering the paying of £200 million recommended pay increases despite not having the budget to cover it. It includes 3.6% for nurses and staff under Agenda for Change, 4% for doctors, and 4% plus £750 for resident doctors – formerly known as junior doctors. That requires a ministerial directive to be made to the department's permanent secretary to proceed despite not having the necessary budget. It will go to the Finance Minister, John O'Dowd, and potentially be passed to the Executive for approval. Mr Nesbitt told MLAs the move involves the risk of an overspend for the department, but that not paying the pay increases also involves risks. 'There is an undeniable risk that the department could be on a path towards a potential overspend,' he said. 'I have also concluded that there are also substantial risks in not proceeding with the pay increases – the biggest risk is failing to deliver on my promise to deliver 'better outcomes'. 'I do not want health service staff to be demoralised by inaction and another year of uncertainty on pay. They deserve better than that. This is about treating with respect the people who keep us healthy, fix us when we are broken and keep us alive when death becomes a potential outcome. 'Falling behind pay levels across the water will also exacerbate challenges with recruitment and retention of health service staff.' He added that pay parity with England for Agenda for Change staff is a 'well-established and hard-fought principle' that he intends to maintain. 'Failure to do so would undoubtedly lead to industrial action with all the disruption to patient care that will involve,' he said. 'Not to mention the negative impact on the focus to reduce waiting lists, or the overdue need to reform healthcare delivery. 'In short, the risk of a potential budget overspend must be balanced against the significant risk to service provision.' Mike Farrar, Permanent Secretary of the Department of Health in Northern Ireland at the department headquarters in Castle Buildings, Stormont Estate, east Belfast. (Rebecca Black/PA) Permanent Secretary Mike Farrar said finding the £200 million for the pay award is a challenge. 'I have got a statutory duty as the accounting officer to point out to the minister that we don't have that in the budget which is what I've done,' he said. Mr Farrar said he is talking to colleagues from the Department of Finance, and expects the Executive to be involved. 'I'm hoping that if they can see how hard we're working to get our efficiencies, and that this plan that we're putting forward to reset the health and social care system is going to lead to a sustainable financial position, I'm hoping that they will somehow find the wherewithal to help me in the short term,' he added.
Powys County Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Powys County Times
Northern Ireland's health service facing projected £600m budget shortfall
Northern Ireland's health service is expected to face a £600 million budget shortfall. Stormont Health Minister Mike Nesbitt described financial plans being finalised which will be 'unprecedented in their scale and ambition' and involve 'extremely difficult and painful savings measures'. In a written statement to the Assembly on Wednesday afternoon, Mr Nesbitt said the projected £600 million is the 'scale of the gap between existing funding and what's needed to maintain services'. He told MLAs he will play his part and 'do everything I can to achieve a breakeven budget', but also urged the Executive and the Assembly to support him. 'My permanent secretary is finalising financial plans that will be unprecedented in their scale and ambition,' he said. 'They will involve an extremely difficult and indeed painful series of savings measures for HSC trusts. 'I can assure the Assembly that I will drive forward savings to reduce the projected shortfall.' 'To repeat, I will play my part and do everything I can to achieve a breakeven budget. 'But I will need Executive and Assembly support.' Mr Nesbitt also confirmed he is ordering the paying of £200 million recommended pay increases despite not having the budget to cover it. It includes 3.6% for nurses and staff under Agenda for Change, 4% for doctors, and 4% plus £750 for resident doctors – formerly known as junior doctors. That requires a ministerial directive to be made to the department's permanent secretary to proceed despite not having the necessary budget. It will go to the Finance Minister, John O'Dowd, and potentially be passed to the Executive for approval. Mr Nesbitt told MLAs the move involves the risk of an overspend for the department, but that not paying the pay increases also involves risks. 'There is an undeniable risk that the department could be on a path towards a potential overspend,' he said. 'I have also concluded that there are also substantial risks in not proceeding with the pay increases – the biggest risk is failing to deliver on my promise to deliver 'better outcomes'. 'I do not want health service staff to be demoralised by inaction and another year of uncertainty on pay. They deserve better than that. This is about treating with respect the people who keep us healthy, fix us when we are broken and keep us alive when death becomes a potential outcome. 'Falling behind pay levels across the water will also exacerbate challenges with recruitment and retention of health service staff.' He added that pay parity with England for Agenda for Change staff is a 'well-established and hard-fought principle' that he intends to maintain. 'Failure to do so would undoubtedly lead to industrial action with all the disruption to patient care that will involve,' he said. 'Not to mention the negative impact on the focus to reduce waiting lists, or the overdue need to reform healthcare delivery. 'In short, the risk of a potential budget overspend must be balanced against the significant risk to service provision.' Permanent Secretary Mike Farrar said finding the £200 million for the pay award is a challenge. 'I have got a statutory duty as the accounting officer to point out to the minister that we don't have that in the budget which is what I've done,' he said. Mr Farrar said he is talking to colleagues from the Department of Finance, and expects the Executive to be involved. 'I'm hoping that if they can see how hard we're working to get our efficiencies, and that this plan that we're putting forward to reset the health and social care system is going to lead to a sustainable financial position, I'm hoping that they will somehow find the wherewithal to help me in the short term,' he added.
North Wales Chronicle
5 days ago
- Business
- North Wales Chronicle
Northern Ireland's health service facing projected £600m budget shortfall
Stormont Health Minister Mike Nesbitt described financial plans being finalised which will be 'unprecedented in their scale and ambition' and involve 'extremely difficult and painful savings measures'. In a written statement to the Assembly on Wednesday afternoon, Mr Nesbitt said the projected £600 million is the 'scale of the gap between existing funding and what's needed to maintain services'. He told MLAs he will play his part and 'do everything I can to achieve a breakeven budget', but also urged the Executive and the Assembly to support him. 'My permanent secretary is finalising financial plans that will be unprecedented in their scale and ambition,' he said. 'They will involve an extremely difficult and indeed painful series of savings measures for HSC trusts. 'I can assure the Assembly that I will drive forward savings to reduce the projected shortfall.' 'To repeat, I will play my part and do everything I can to achieve a breakeven budget. 'But I will need Executive and Assembly support.' Mr Nesbitt also confirmed he is ordering the paying of £200 million recommended pay increases despite not having the budget to cover it. It includes 3.6% for nurses and staff under Agenda for Change, 4% for doctors, and 4% plus £750 for resident doctors – formerly known as junior doctors. That requires a ministerial directive to be made to the department's permanent secretary to proceed despite not having the necessary budget. It will go to the Finance Minister, John O'Dowd, and potentially be passed to the Executive for approval. Mr Nesbitt told MLAs the move involves the risk of an overspend for the department, but that not paying the pay increases also involves risks. 'There is an undeniable risk that the department could be on a path towards a potential overspend,' he said. 'I have also concluded that there are also substantial risks in not proceeding with the pay increases – the biggest risk is failing to deliver on my promise to deliver 'better outcomes'. 'I do not want health service staff to be demoralised by inaction and another year of uncertainty on pay. They deserve better than that. This is about treating with respect the people who keep us healthy, fix us when we are broken and keep us alive when death becomes a potential outcome. 'Falling behind pay levels across the water will also exacerbate challenges with recruitment and retention of health service staff.' He added that pay parity with England for Agenda for Change staff is a 'well-established and hard-fought principle' that he intends to maintain. 'Failure to do so would undoubtedly lead to industrial action with all the disruption to patient care that will involve,' he said. 'Not to mention the negative impact on the focus to reduce waiting lists, or the overdue need to reform healthcare delivery. 'In short, the risk of a potential budget overspend must be balanced against the significant risk to service provision.' Permanent Secretary Mike Farrar said finding the £200 million for the pay award is a challenge. 'I have got a statutory duty as the accounting officer to point out to the minister that we don't have that in the budget which is what I've done,' he said. Mr Farrar said he is talking to colleagues from the Department of Finance, and expects the Executive to be involved. 'I'm hoping that if they can see how hard we're working to get our efficiencies, and that this plan that we're putting forward to reset the health and social care system is going to lead to a sustainable financial position, I'm hoping that they will somehow find the wherewithal to help me in the short term,' he added.
