Midwifery crisis at heart of £3m. HSSD overspend
HEALTH and Social Services is on course to overspend its budget by £3m. for the year, the Treasury minister has reported.
Gavin St Pier said HSSD would be bringing a policy letter to the States in July, explaining its position and asking the States to increase its 2015 budget.
In October last year, HSSD's cash limit budget for 2015 was raised by £2.2m. to £112.9m., an increase of 7.2% which was £1.25m. less than HSSD wanted.
However, in the first quarter of the year, it has already overspent its budget by £700,000.
HSSD minister Paul Luxon, pictured, told the Assembly that of the £3m., £2.3m. related to the increased expenditure as a result of the emergency review into midwifery services, which called for a number of improvements following the death of a newborn baby.
It was therefore only £700,000, he said, that related to 'business as usual' increased costs.