HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES will break its budget next year.

At last week’s States meeting, minister Hunter Adam (pictured) asked Treasury and Resources to recognise the financial straits his department was in and provide more cash.

The combination of expensive off-island placements for complex treatments, medical inflation and the employment of high-wage agency staff because of the shortage of nurses has left no room to breathe within this year’s budget.

And Deputy Adam thought next year’s overspend could be in the millions.

‘£8m. is the worst case scenario, I hope,’ he said.

He and his deputy, Barry Brehaut, and director of corporate services Richard Evans said the board had been working hard to stem the flow of money.

‘The senior management team and the Health board have considered the potential risks in relation to overspends,’ said Deputy Adam.

‘As we speak, a full assessment is taking place in all directions by the senior management team, with the full support of the political board, to assess where savings may be made without significant effects on services.’

It was his intention to let people know the level of the problem and their progress.

‘We as a department are being proactive and hopefully transparent in relation to the financial situation.’