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WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES BY DEPUTY G.P. SOUTHERN OF ST. HELIER
ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 8th SEPTEMBER 2015
Question
Will the Minister detail for members the savings planned in the 12 areas listed on page 83 of the Annex to the Medium Term Financial Plan including any changes to grants or service delivery in the voluntary and community sectors over the period 2013 to 2016?
Answer
The Department has embarked on a significant cost reduction programme called Safely Removing Costs'. This aims to deliver savings in the region of £12M in 2016, in order to ensure a balanced departmental budget.
The detailed plans for the workstreams are currently being finalised. They include, for example, reducing spend on supplies, and reducing headcount where it is safe to do so. This is in line with the States Reform programme.
Each area of the Department's spend is being reviewed, including the funding for off-Island providers and organisations on-Island that receive funding through grants or agreements. The detail of this is being worked through and meetings are taking place with these organisations in order to explain the financial challenge and identify areas where costs can be reduced. Some organisations have already suggested cost reductions for their funding, demonstrating effective partnership working with us.
Some difficult decisions will need to be made in the coming months. The Department is always seeking the most effective use of its resources and where funding has to be reduced, alternative arrangements will be explored, with patient safety always paramount.