NI health service: Trust chairs warn of catastrophic cuts impacts

In February the devolved government in Northern Ireland was restored after a 24-month hiatus, during which there were no departmental ministers in place.

Chairman of the Western Trust Dr Tom Frawley told BBC News NI the absence of politicians had created difficulties regarding the transformation of Northern Ireland’s health service.

“The health service knows what the blueprint is, knows what it needs to do and has been developing the analysis to inform that,” he said. “But we’ve had no politicians, who are required to make these judgements and finalise those judgments.”

Referring to strains on GP and pharmacy services as well as on hospitals, Dr Frawley said the “whole system is under intense pressure and it is therefore not in a position to cope with a significant financial cut”.

He said “crucial” services will be impacted because of “the level of cut that’s now being required” of health trusts to make.