A comprehensive freeze on hiring within the Department of Health has made staffing the ministry a “serious concern” for the next financial year.

This according to Health Minister Jeanne Atherden who told the House of Assembly this week that 14 posts had been frozen to meet the department’s cash limits.

She also provided a breakdown of grants provided to charities and organisations by the department saying: “Unfortunately, we were not able to provide all the funding that was requested”.

Mrs Atherden added: “Unfortunately the savings that could not be realised when the furlough was stopped had to be found through freezing selected posts, because it is the fact that most programmes only have marginal operating budgets above salaries,” said Mrs Atherden.

“In short there was no fat to cut in the Department — only posts. The Department took the difficult decision to freeze 14 posts in order to make its cash limits.

“In the last fortnight a comprehensive freeze on hiring has come to pass for the Public Service making the staffing of the Department in the next financial year a serious concern.”

Mrs Atherden told the House that the grant for the Bermuda Health Council had been reduced by $44,000 for the 2015/16 fiscal year.

But she revealed plans for the council to publish the names of employers with inactive health insurance policies as part of its enforcement role.

Mrs Atherden said: “The council will continue to step up its enforcement actions to ensure employees are aware of their policy status and receive their coverage entitlements.

“A more efficient deterrent has been identified and approved, and in 2015 the Health Council will be granted authority to publish the names of employers with inactive health insurance policies for their employees.

“This measure is expected to reduce the need for prosecution and enable employees to stay abreast of any irregularities in their coverage.

“Three employers have been successfully prosecuted, and we will continue to step up the enforcement action to make sure employers are aware of their duties.”

This financial year the Health Ministry will provide $3 million to the LCCA for Overseas Medical Care, $48,000 for The Nursing Council, $40,000 to Age Concern, $44,000 for Admiralty House Senior Islanders Club, $10,000 for The Sexual Assault Resource Team, $72,000 for Public Health Scholarships and $14,000 for Tomorrows Voices.

Mrs Atherden said: “These organisations provide valuable services, in some cases essential services, to the community and the Ministry of Health, Seniors and Environment. Unfortunately, we were not able to provide all the funding that was requested.”

The Health Minister told the House on Monday that the new Home Medical Services had resulted in over $100,000 in savings.

She added: “This has enabled patients to receive select medical procedures such as IV therapy and wound care in their homes, payable by all private and public insurers.

“This service helps to ensure patient safety and to contain health costs, by providing care in more appropriate settings.

“Preliminary evaluation indicates that over the first six months of implementation the Home Medical Services benefit yielded savings of over $103,000 to the health system and was successful in enabling care to be delivered outside the acute-care setting.

“This is an encouraging start, and the Health Council will look to expand this programme in the future.”

• For full ministerial statement, click on the PDF file under “Related Media”.