RCN calls on Northern Ireland Assembly to reject nursing cuts
Published: 20 April 2009
Speaking in advance of today's Assembly debate on plans to axe 722 nursing posts from Northern Ireland's health service, RCN Northern Ireland Director Mary Hinds has urged Assembly members to support any proposals to exempt or reduce the impact on the health service of the efficiency targets required under the Comprehensive Spending Review [CSR].
Mary said: "The Review of Public Administration [RPA] was supposed to impact across all areas of government in Northern Ireland but yet it is only health and social care that has so far completed its restructuring. In doing so it has demonstrated the willingness and capacity for change and modernisation. Allied to the impact of the CSR, it is clear that the Executive is asking the service to do too much too soon.
"We have consistently drawn attention to the impact on patient care that will result from the proposed cuts and we have highlighted the fact that it is the most vulnerable members of our communities who could be affected. The RPA and CSR are intended to release funding for re-investment in frontline services but there is nothing more frontline than nurses caring for patients in our hospitals and in our communities across Northern Ireland. We have been heartened at the wide support we have received from all of our political parties for these concerns.
"Nurses will welcome any moves to safeguard services to patients and to communities. We hope that Assembly members will take this opportunity to again consider carefully the impact of CSR efficiency proposals on health care. The Assembly must send a clear message to the Northern Ireland Executive that the scale of the efficiency savings it is requiring from our health and social care service is unrealistic and unsustainable.
"The health service has been placed in an impossible position in meeting these efficiency targets. It is now time for the Northern Ireland Executive to re-examine its plans and priorities, putting the needs of patients and the health and well-being of the people of Northern Ireland first."