Northern Ireland’s draft budget for 2025-26 could lead to catastrophic health service cuts, potentially resulting in the loss of 10,000 healthcare jobs, according to health leaders.
The warning comes from six health and social care trusts, which have calculated the potential impact of £400 million in required savings. Job losses could range from nurses to domiciliary care providers, affecting frontline services.
The Northern Ireland Confederation for Health and Social Care (NICON), which represents Health and Social Care (HSC) leaders, has described the draft budget as “unworkable, counter-strategic, and damaging to healthcare funding”.
Health Leaders Demand Long-Term Financial Plan
NICON has called for “creative political action” to secure a three-year financial plan rather than short-term budgeting.
NICON spokesperson Neil Guckian stated that achieving these drastic savings within a single year is an “untenable task”, warning that:
“High-impact cuts on a scale not previously seen will have catastrophic effects on frontline services.”
Even if the health minister agreed to implement the proposed measures, NICON argues that a one-year budget cycle would leave little time for real savings after mandatory six-month consultations.
Conflicting Budget Figures: What’s the Real Increase?
The 2025-26 budget allocates £8.4 billion to health, with the Department of Health estimating an increase of just 2.6%. However, Finance Minister Caoimhe Archibald claims an 8.7% rise, excluding previously allocated funds.
According to Northern Ireland’s budget watchdog, the conflicting figures stem from a £471.9 million additional allocation in the 2024-25 budget, affecting the percentage comparison.
Rising Costs Put Additional Strain on Budget
The Department of Health faces increasing financial pressures, including:
• £65 million to meet the National Living Wage increase
• £36 million to cover employer NIC increases
• £150 million for a 2.8% staff pay rise recommended by the UK Government
NICON warns that, under the proposed budget, health and social care services will stagnate, with little room for service improvements or changes in funding allocation.
Concerns Over Hospital Waiting Lists and Social Care Cuts
A major concern is that hospital waiting lists may see little improvement, despite government commitments to addressing the issue.
Health Minister Robin Swann has previously sought £215 million to tackle waiting lists, but the Programme for Government (PfG) has yet to confirm whether the full amount will be available—or whether it will be a recurrent five-year commitment.
NICON emphasized that waiting list investments should not come at the expense of essential services, such as domiciliary care. Neil Guckian warned:
“Any investment in waiting lists would be undermined by cuts elsewhere, such as social care packages.”
What’s Next for Northern Ireland’s Health Sector?
As the Northern Ireland Executive finalizes its budget, pressure is mounting on political leaders to reconsider health service funding. Without significant changes, health leaders warn that staff cuts, funding gaps, and worsening patient care will be inevitable.
With rising costs, budget uncertainties, and frontline service concerns, the future of Northern Ireland’s healthcare system remains uncertain—and health leaders are demanding urgent action to prevent a crisis.
