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18/09/2023
Dept Of Health Warns Of Disruption To NI Services
The Department of Health (DoH) has warned of "significant" disruption to health care services as NI health care staff take industrial action on 21 and 22 September.
In a statement the department said: "Intensive work will continue this week with the aim of mitigating impacts on the public where possible, but some reductions in service are inevitable."
Although the DoH said it "understands the deep-seated frustration" colleagues are faced with due to the absence of a pay offer this year, it "very much regrets" that healthcare professionals have decided to take strike action.
The department stated: "In setting out the implications of the budget it received for 2023/24, the Department said in May that it was facing an 'impossible position' and that decisions are required that are not in the best interests of the health and social care system.
"That remains the case today. As has been previously stated, the current budgetary constraints mean that matching the English pay offer for Agenda for Change health and social care staff would require large scale cuts on an unprecedented scale, with severe and lasting implications for services. That would be outside the scope of our decision making powers.
"The Department continues to look for ways to address the pay challenge."
In a statement the department said: "Intensive work will continue this week with the aim of mitigating impacts on the public where possible, but some reductions in service are inevitable."
Although the DoH said it "understands the deep-seated frustration" colleagues are faced with due to the absence of a pay offer this year, it "very much regrets" that healthcare professionals have decided to take strike action.
The department stated: "In setting out the implications of the budget it received for 2023/24, the Department said in May that it was facing an 'impossible position' and that decisions are required that are not in the best interests of the health and social care system.
"That remains the case today. As has been previously stated, the current budgetary constraints mean that matching the English pay offer for Agenda for Change health and social care staff would require large scale cuts on an unprecedented scale, with severe and lasting implications for services. That would be outside the scope of our decision making powers.
"The Department continues to look for ways to address the pay challenge."
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