Assembly backs health jobs motion

Hundreds of nursing jobs could be lost

The assembly has called on the health minister to ensure that efficiency savings within the health service do not affect frontline services.

The Royal College of Nursing has said it is deeply concerned about proposals which would mean 722 nursing posts being lost.

No-one opposed a motion calling for no cuts to frontline services.

However, the debate highlighted the party political divisions that the issue opens up.

The chair of the health committee Iris Robinson said it was not a question of political point scoring.

"The committee has identified the three most vulnerable groups in our society - children, people with mental health problems and older people, and it is calling for the budgets for these to be ring-fenced and protected," she said.

But Health Minister Michael McGimpsey argued he had to find savings of