It comes after the publication of a report by the NI Audit Office (NIAO) looking into the condition of Northern Ireland’s health estate, which outlines its deterioration, and how a much more strategic management approach is needed.
Mr Donnelly, who is also Deputy Chair of the Health Committee, has said: “That a whole health estate worth over £3.7 billion, including hundreds of properties across hundreds of sites, has been left to deteriorate with no strategic long-term plan from the Department of Health (DoH) is inexcusable.
“This report has made clear that this lack of planning has significantly limited the department’s ability to ‘make the best use of available resources’, which in itself will be difficult for many to accept given the proportion of the Executive’s overall budget which is committed to health.
“Over 100 properties are sitting vacant, and in some cases, have sat empty for decades. These properties are worth close to £40 million, and questions must be asked as to why DoH is letting such valuable assets rot away on one hand, whilst overspending its budget and asking the Executive to bail it out on the other.
“What we’re looking at is yet more evidence of financial mismanagement within our health system, spanning back over the last decade at least, and a current Health Minister who has failed to get to grips with the issue.
“It’s beyond time we saw a much-needed overhaul in how our health funding is spent, and reform of health and social care services to ensure the best care possible for those who need it.”
Mr Donnelly, who is also Deputy Chair of the Health Committee, has said: “That a whole health estate worth over £3.7 billion, including hundreds of properties across hundreds of sites, has been left to deteriorate with no strategic long-term plan from the Department of Health (DoH) is inexcusable.
“This report has made clear that this lack of planning has significantly limited the department’s ability to ‘make the best use of available resources’, which in itself will be difficult for many to accept given the proportion of the Executive’s overall budget which is committed to health.
“Over 100 properties are sitting vacant, and in some cases, have sat empty for decades. These properties are worth close to £40 million, and questions must be asked as to why DoH is letting such valuable assets rot away on one hand, whilst overspending its budget and asking the Executive to bail it out on the other.
“What we’re looking at is yet more evidence of financial mismanagement within our health system, spanning back over the last decade at least, and a current Health Minister who has failed to get to grips with the issue.
“It’s beyond time we saw a much-needed overhaul in how our health funding is spent, and reform of health and social care services to ensure the best care possible for those who need it.”