Health leaders in Northern Ireland have issued a stark warning that the region’s draft budget could lead to service cuts equivalent to losing 10,000 healthcare staff.
The Northern Ireland Confederation for Health and Social Care (Nicon), which represents leaders across the health sector, described the proposed health budget as “unworkable and counter-strategic” with potentially “catastrophic impacts on frontline services.”
The warning comes as part of Nicon’s submission to the public consultation on spending plans agreed by the Stormont Executive in December. Stormont Health Minister Mike Nesbitt has previously warned that the budget could leave him facing a £400 million (€475 million) funding shortfall.
Speaking on behalf of Nicon, Neil Guckian said: “Our consultation response details how the HSC (health and social care) will need to find £400 million savings in 2025-26. Coupled with the increase in demand for health and social care services, this is an untenable ask.”
Guckian emphasized the impracticality of implementing such severe cuts in a short timeframe. “Even if the minister were to agree to implement such measures, a one-year budget means our senior teams will likely spend six months in statutory consultation, leaving little to no time to plausibly deliver this level of savings by the end of the financial year.”
According to The Breaking News, the warning comes just days after the Stormont Executive published its programme for government, which included promises of additional funding to tackle hospital waiting list backlogs.
Guckian cautioned against robbing Peter to pay Paul: “Although the Executive’s plan for waiting list investment is very welcome, this funding must not be secured by simply raiding the existing budget for the day-to-day running of health and social care.”
Nicon’s analysis indicates that the proposed health funding for Northern Ireland is at its lowest level relative to England in a decade. The organization has called for “a more rational, innovative approach to HSC funding” and a broader societal conversation about sustainable healthcare delivery.
“This will require bolder decision-making around additional revenue raising; moving care closer to communities; and prevention, including a rethink on how we support the public to take a more active role in their own health,” Guckian concluded.