The official version of this document can be found via the PDF button.
The below content has been automatically generated from the original PDF and some formatting may have been lost, therefore it should not be relied upon to extract citations or propose amendments.
1240/5(8559)
WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES BY DEPUTY G.P. SOUTHERN OF ST. HELIER
ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 9th DECEMBER 2014
Question
Has the Minister yet finalised proposals to deliver the 2% reductions required of all departments, as shown on page 68 of R.167/2014, and, if not, when does he intend to consider:
• the re-phasing of the planned implementation of P82/2012;
• delays in other planned developments;
• a reduction in the provision of existing services;
• the risk of Health and Social Services no longer being able to follow United Kingdom standards for technologies, treatments and drugs;
• the potential increase in waiting times / reduction in patient satisfaction.
Will the Minister further state whether the extent of the budget reductions will be limited to the £4.7 million indicated on page 68 or the £10.5 million that is indicated elsewhere?
Is the Minister confident that a pay award for staff within the 1.5% limit for 2015 contained in the Addendum to the 2015 budget as amended can be achieved whilst maintaining the ability to recruit and retain properly trained and experienced staff?
Answer
The Department has commenced work on identifying how it will achieve the 2% reductions identified in the 2015 Budget. The full detailed planning is not yet complete.
The Department takes a very proactive approach to financial management and is constantly challenging itself to deliver cash releasing efficiencies and productivity improvements. This helps mitigate against the ever increasing demand and cost of health and social care through a combination of reallocating existing resources and delivering more care with the same or less resource.
Prior to the preparation of the 2015 Budget, the Department had already identified and planned to deliver savings and productivity improvements in excess of £3 million in 2015.
The 2015 Budget set out further proposals including a 2% reduction in gross expenditure budgets, amounting to £4.7 million and an overall reduction in carry forwards from 2014, which could be up to approximately £2.5 million for the Department. Together these figures could amount to up to £10.5 million.
Delivering services within this reduced level of spend will require a reworking of previous plans, including P82/2012 initiatives. This will be done in light of learning from pilot initiatives undertaken to date, feedback on new services already implemented and latest research.
The Department intends to continue targeting the same outcomes for patients, while acknowledging that there is a reduced level of funding available, and is committed to living within its means.
Patient safety and access to high quality care and services for all patients, residents and their families will always remain the priority, and all options to achieving these savings will continue to be carefully considered and assessed in terms of the impact on patients.
2015 staff pay, terms and conditions are a matter for the States Employment Board. Recruitment and retention is not solely related to pay; many factors impact upon individual decisions on changing jobs and/or relocating to or from the island. The Department is committed to continue working with SEB, other Departments and its staff on these issues.