Belfast Health and Social Care Trust has announced the equality screening outcomes of its response to the Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR): the Assembly’s requirement to achieve a 9% efficiency saving target by March 2011.

An overarching Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA), which sets out its principles of consultation and details the equality screening measures it has undertaken to date, has been issued by the Trust for public comment.

“Following the regional Comprehensive Spending Review, our Trust, like other public organisations, is required by the Assembly to save 3% every year for 3 years – a figure that, for us, amounts to £130 million because we also have to meet a pre-existing shortfall in our funding” , said the Trust’s Chief Executive William McKee.

“The good news is that Belfast Trust can do what is asked of us - while also improving the way we deliver services. This is a great tribute to the staff of this Trust who have found ways of working more efficiently with those who use the services, while still improving the quality of care”, he said

“We also believe we can make the savings without adversely impacting on equality. Through the Equality Impact Assessment document we are now issuing for consultation, we are asking the people of Belfast and beyond whether we have got it right – or whether there are equality issues we have not considered.”, added Mr McKee

For further information please contact:

The Belfast Trust Media Office on (028) 9096 0096

Out Of Hours (028) 9056 5656