Health Minister insists savings won't mean cuts

Thu, 08 Mar 2018

Health Minister David Ashford MHK

The Island's Health Minister insists making savings doesn't mean cuts to services.

David Ashford's Department of Health and Social Care will look to make £7m of savings in the next financial year.

The Minister insists the savings will be made by improving efficiency and not by making cuts to services or provisions.

Mr Ashford outlined plans to hire more consultants so the DHSC is less reliant on expensive locums when consultants and surgeons are on holiday or off sick.

He also revealed he's keen to increase the use of telemedicine, where patients communicate with doctors over the phone or using a video call rather than travelling to the UK to meet with specialists.

Mr Ashford was speaking in response to a query from Ramsey MHK Lawrie Hooper in this week's sitting of the House of Keys.