'Keeping staff and patients safe is going to cost millions'
MILLIONS of pounds of extra funding is urgently needed by Health and Social Services, its minister Paul Luxon warned yesterday, as he sent the stark message that patient and staff safety must be its number one priority.
'We are not going to ignore patient safety and staff safety, in terms of duty of care around these requirements,' he said.
Plans include the need for an extra £2m. to cover the quick-fire action plan resulting from the Nursing and Midwifery Council review of midwifery services and a list of £6m.-worth of unexpected, potential capital spending. This ranges from medical equipment and new laundry equipment to new vehicles, property refurbishment and IT costs.
Of the £2m. needed from the NMC review, £1.71m. is not covered by its current budget.
A review of recruitment and retention at the PEH has made 18 recommendations, including the need for up to 71 more nurses at a cost of £3.1m. and better incentives, costed at £500,000.
Deputy Luxon, pictured, stressed that the extra staff would not be hired immediately.
