BY MICHAEL BRESLIN

The Western Health and Social Care Trust stated this week that it had no plans to make any staff redundant as part of its 'contingency plan' to save £5.3m by 31st March next.

A spokesman stated that, in relation to unfilled posts, the Western Health and Social Services Board had given the Trust money to provide services through staff.

"The Trust is in discussion with the Board about building in a 4-week delay to filling posts, except where the Trust believes it to be an essential role. This approach will last throughout the period of the contingency plan i.e. to the end of March 2008 when the Trust will review its financial position".

The Trust Board approved its financial contingency plan at its meeting last week at which it was explained there was a need for the Contingency Plan due to inherited financial pressures and deficits from the three legacy Trust in the Western area, ie Sperrin, Foyle and Altnagelvin.

The new Trust went into operation on 1st April this year.

The Contingency Plan will reduce the Trust's projected potential overspend at the end of the present financial year (31 March 2008) from £8.6million to £3.3million.

Addressing the meeting, the Trust Chairman, Gerard Guckian, explained that in setting the contingency plan, the Trust had taken every effort to minimise the impact on patients and clients and to protect health and social care provision in the West.

"The Trust assures patients, clients, staff and the wider health and social care community that it has considered all options and has left no stone unturned in setting this plan."

The Contingency Plan has identified a number of areas for potential savings. These include - goods and services, salaries and wages, additional income generation, recruitment, a revenue investment plan, telecommunications, additional income from commissioners, estate realignment, and investment / other income.

A Trust spokesman said the Trust would continue to work with its staff and the wider health community on reducing the projected £3.3million overspend and to lobby for an increase in resources to deliver the very best health and social care services for the 290,000 living in the Western area.

The Western Trust's Corporate Management Team is now meeting on a fortnightly basis to discuss the Trust's financial performance and to monitor the Trust's performance against the Contingency Plan.