Patients 'not seeing spending benefits'

Hundreds of extra millions have been ploughed into Northern Ireland’s health service but patients have yet to see the benefit, it was claimed tonight.

Rev Robert Coulter (UUP, North Antrim) said the formation of 15 new health and social care groups to replace GP fundholding would add yet another layer of bureaucracy on an already top-heavy system.

He was speaking as the Health Committee met Eastern Board chiefs to discuss the new primary care arrangements due to come into effect on April 1.

‘‘From this Assembly started, £600m (€984m) extra has been pumped into the system. At the minute we are finding it very difficult to see how this has benefited patients.

‘‘We have the department, five health agencies, four health councils, four boards and now there will be 15 new groups, all to administer health for one and a half million people,’’ he added.

Dr Paula Kilbane, Chief Executive of the Eastern Board, said it was her intention to ensure that patients’ services were maintained during the introduction of new structures.

Under the new system, the local health and social care groups will be responsible to the boards in providing services.

It is envisioned they will eventually be given their own budgets to commission services.

But Paul Berry (DUP, Newry and Armagh) said there was a lot of concern among health professionals at the lack of preparation for the new system.

‘‘There is only six weeks away and we are getting a lot of letters from GPs and nurse practitioners that there might not be a smooth transition.’’

Monica McWilliams (Women’s Coalition, South Belfast) pointed out that the chairmen of the boards of these new groups would earn up to £21,000 on top of their salaries.

‘‘I’m asking about value for money. We are setting up a new tier which is being remunerated at a high level.’’

Sue Ramsey (Sinn Fein, West Belfast) was concerned that some GPs or health centres would refuse to become involved in the new system.

But she was pleased that patients would be given representation on the boards of the new groups.

‘‘Personally I think they have a good make-up because we are talking about the bottom up approach, involving the whole community,’’ she added.