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Need For More Efficient Processes As Well As Structure

Tuesday 22 November 2005

A leading medical charity has stated that, no matter what the cost savings of the new structure for the Health Service in Northern Ireland, there is huge scope for more efficient delivery and greater outputs. This must bring better value for money as highlighted in the Report of Professor John Appleby of the King’s Fund.

A leading medical charity has stated that, no matter what the cost savings of the new structure for the Health Service in Northern Ireland, there is huge scope for more efficient delivery and greater outputs. This must bring better value for money as highlighted in the Report of Professor John Appleby of the King’s Fund.

Since 1987 Northern Ireland has experienced rationing in the delivery of health service. This has led to the unacceptably high levels of waiting lists. Despite additional resources being ploughed in to build services locally, little or no additional outputs have been achieved in certain areas.

Andrew Dougal, Chief Executive of the Northern Ireland Chest Heart & Stroke Association (NICHSA) said, “NICHSA feels that it is essential to ensure that a separate body is responsible for the purchasing and commissioning of health programmes.

Those involved in the delivery of services should not be tasked with purchasing. Service providers rightly focus on patients and carers. Any purchasing work will be a mere distraction undertaken on the sideline or at the margins. However, such providers should be heavily involved in the health needs assessment and feed this information back to those who commission and purchase.”

Ends

Notes to Editors:

Andrew Dougal was speaking on the day of the announcements of the Review of Public Administration, including a revision of the agencies involved in health.

Since 1990 NICHSA has been involved in campaigning to ensure waiting lists are greatly reduced, particularly for cardiac surgery and other cardiology services. While some improvements have been made in the 15 years period, there still remains unacceptably high levels of waiting times. As performance improves in cardiac surgery, performance in terms of waiting times for the first appointment to see a cardiologist has deteriorated drastically in the last couple of years.

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