asked the Minister for Health if he will give details of the proposed reductions in staff, medical and non medical, employed by each of the eight health boards in 1987, compared with 1986; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Health Board Staff Reductions.
17.
Under the Government decision on the filling of posts in the public service, health boards were asked to reduce the numbers employed by 1,315 as follows:—
Health Board
|
East |
240 |
|
Midland |
100 |
|
Mid-West |
135 |
|
North-East |
100 |
|
North-West |
140 |
|
South-East |
160 |
|
South |
235 |
|
West |
205 |
The health boards were directed to make every effort to spread staff reductions evenly across the grades and to protect "frontline" staff as much as possible in the interests of maintaining services.
The setting of specific targets for the boards gave local managements a flexibility to ameliorate the harsher effects on service of a total embargo on the filling of vacancies. It is anticipated that further savings will have to be made by the boards in order to remain within their 1987 financial allocation. In 1986 there were no substantial reductions in staff employed.