Health department likely to be overbudget again

£11.1 million overspend could be repeated

A senior health official admits it’s likely the island’s health service will go over budget again next year due to the cost of locums and agency staff.

It’s expected the department will not break even during the 2017/18 year, this after an £11.1 million overspend during the last financial year.

Director of hospital services Mike Quinn says work is well underway to ensure financial sustainability but patient care must always come first.