Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Demand for clarity over funding of health dept
THE Department for Health has called for clarity on when it will receive funding after MPS voted to pass a Budget for the region via Westminster.
In the Budget Bill, Secretary of State James Brokenshire revealed an increase in health spending of 5.4%.
However, trade union Unison has argued this amounts to a funding drop as it fails to keep up with health inflation which stands at 6%.
Mr Brokenshire told Parliament he will also release £50 million of funding for health and education, which will be the first portion of the £1billion “confidence and supply” deal agreed between the Conservatives and the DUP.
A Health Department spokesman said :“Immediate health priorities would include investment in waiting list initiatives.
“Early confirmation of additional funding is essential as our ability to spend effectively diminishes with each passing week as we move closer to financial year end on March 31 2018.”