Northern Ireland’s health department has launched a consultation on setting up a shared services organisation for health and social care.
The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS) consultation document states that up to 10% of IT staff posts and 5% of information management staff posts could be lost if the province was to switch to shared services for IM and T.
The DHSSPS says the policy would mean a more efficient and effective administration structure could be developed for health and social care trusts, agencies and boards.
The document suggests IT and information management should move to shared services in phase two of any switch as it says elements of the vision for both functions need to be clarified before detailed planning can begin.
The document adds: “The restructuring of the Health and Social Care (HSC) system and the proposed introduction of new performance incentive arrangements, in addition to the planned introduction of key HSC systems in the coming years all affect the potential requirements for IT to support the HSC as it moves forward.”
Other key functions which the consultation says could be moved to a shared services organisation include finance, procurement, human resources and estate services.
A spokesperson for the DHSSPS said: “Reducing management and administration costs, so that they can be reinvested in front line patient services is a key underlying aim of the Review of Public Administration. The creation of a shared services organisation would enable Health and Social Care Services to concentrate their efforts on their core objective to improve the health and well-being of the population.”
The consultation began on 19 September and will end on 17 December.