Northern Ireland Trusts Spend £22m on Restricted Procedures Despite Policy

Northern Ireland's health trusts spent nearly £22 million in 2023-24 on about 12,000 healthcare procedures restricted by the Department of Health's Effective Use of Resources (EUR) policy, which limits 29 procedures to very specific circumstances. These procedures included tonsillectomies, tummy tucks, liposuction, removal of breast implants, carpal tunnel operations, and tattoo removal, many of which are supposed to be restricted or not permitted at all. Despite the high volume and significant costs, the Northern Ireland Audit Office found that trusts had not implemented arrangements to verify compliance with the policy, resulting in a lack of oversight and poor value for money. The South Eastern Trust had the highest expenditure on these procedures, followed by the Southern, Belfast, Northern, and Western Trusts. Auditor General Dorinnia Carville criticized the Department of Health and trusts for failing to ensure proper monitoring and compliance, especially amid financial pressures on the health service. Both the Department and trusts have acknowledged the concerns and agreed that oversight arrangements must be strengthened to ensure effective use of public funds.