Health Cuts in Health and Social Care - Methodist Council on Social Responsibility speaks out

Statement regarding cuts in Health and Social Care

The Council on Social Responsibility of the Methodist Church in Ireland expresses its serious concern at the severe financial restrictions and cuts being proposed to health and social care services in NI. We recognise that in the present economic situation many difficult decisions have to be made about priorities in public services.

We are aware that historically, health and social care has been underfunded and that since 2007 Trusts have had to make significant efficiencies over a three-year period that has left all of them with huge financial deficits. Now with the deficit in the N Ireland budget there is a real possibility of yet further cuts in the overall allocation to health and social care.

The Council is extremely concerned at the serious cumulative effect that underfunding, imposed efficiencies and proposed cuts will have on services and particularly on patient care and safety, on the variety of services being offered and on staff morale. We are also concerned about the speed with which some cuts are being proposed.

As a church we very warmly commend all health and social care staff for the service they render, often beyond the call of duty and in very difficult circumstances. We want to assure them of our support and prayers through these challenging and changing times.

We are alarmed by the news that an additional £30Bn - £40Bn has been injected into the UK banking system whist at the same time bank bonuses for 2009 are expected to be of the order of £6Bn - some 18 times the total saving required of the N Ireland budget. We recognise that a strong banking system is essential to the economic well being of society. We also take the view that social services (i.e. health and education) must be fully and properly resourced if we are to have a strong civic society.

We therefore urge the Stormont Executive and indeed the Chancellor of the Exchequer to find fair and equitable ways to address the present difficulties, while, at the same time ensuring those who need healthcare can access it easily and without delay and those who provide it are properly resourced to carry it out. In particular we would urge the Executive to address with the utmost urgency the issue of health service under-funding and make every effort to redress this imbalance.

Contact:
Rev. Dr. Wesley Blair (028) 906 55719 or 07769697700
Joint Chairperson of the Council

Issued by:
Rev. Roy Cooper (07710945104
Communications Officer