Multi-billion pound health boost for Northern Ireland

The UK Government has made nearly £2.7 billion extra funding available for health services in Northern Ireland over the next five years.

The Secretary of State, Dr John Reid, hailed the UK Chancellor's budget as good news for Northern Ireland.

"When you look at the amounts of money being made available for health in Northern Ireland in the budget, you can see that this is a once in a lifetime opportunity for the Northern Ireland Executive to spend this money where it can really make a difference - and give people a world class health service fit for the 21st century.

"The Government has done its bit. We are making the money available and it is now for the Northern Ireland Executive to decide how to spend it."

Over the next five years, Dr Reid detailed how more than £2.6 billion would be made available in Northern Ireland, on top of that already promised. The extra money will be available in five yearly amounts: in 2003/4 - £73 million; in 2004/5 - £270 million; in 2005/6 - £510 million; in 2006/7 - £759 million; and in 2007/8 £1 billion.

Cautiously welcoming the announcement, Northern Ireland Health Minister Bairbre de Brun said that the executive acknowledged that health was a priority and there was a genuine recognition that far greater funding for health was needed. But the Minister said that despite the funding there would be a shortfall in the next year.

Alliance Leader David Ford welcomed Gordon Brown’s boost to the national health service: “The Chancellor has finally recognised that you can’t have quality public services unless you pay for them. It would have been more honest if Labour had been prepared to increase taxation for education and health when it first came to power.

“It will be important to ensure that when this money is transferred to Northern Ireland, Ministers make sure we get proper value for money.

However, Ulster Unionist Treasury Spokesman Jeffrey Donaldson said that the fine print of the Budget would need to be closely examined to discover if its provisions are as positive as they appeared.

Mr Donaldson expressed concern that in Northern Ireland where, he said, "the hospitals are fast approaching the poor state being experienced in Great Britain," there should be an independent health service auditor.

Mr Donaldson added: "There is little point in throwing money at the NHS without putting in place the measures that will guarantee that the extra funding will be properly and efficiently spent. I welcome the move to appoint an auditor in England. Northern Ireland must surely follow suit."

(SP)