Details of the efficiency plans were revealed at a recent meeting of the Southern Health and Social Services Board.

The lion’s share of the savings are to be made in acute services with £10.4 million to be saved there while the review of public administration would account for a £5.8 million saving.

The plans, laid out by the Southern Health and Social Care Trust, also envisage a saving of £8.2 million on older people and primary care.

The meeting was assured none of the changes would be “counter-strategic or reduce the quality of care”.

Areas to be examined included productivity, workforce overhead costs, income generation, capital development/rationalisation of estate and other related issues.

It was also pointed out work was ongoing with staff and service users to identify where other efficiencies could be made.

Huge decentralisation of some services had taken place, it was pointed out - with the recent opening of trauma and orthopaedic services at Craigavon Area Hospital cited as an example.

However, assurances were also given that only those services which could be delivered on a centralised basis would be delivered in this way and it was not the Trust’s intention to centralise services on the Craigavon site as this would have a major impact on the estate.

Chief Executive of the Trust, Colm Donaghy, also gave the assurance in regard to Lurgan Hospital that services would continue to be delivered on this site for the forseeable future.

He also said it was important to ensure local people were comfortable with the plans proposed and if there was local opposition to any of the proposals these would be reviewed.