Published Thursday, 28 January 2010
Michael McGimpsey appeared before Stormont's health committee warning of severe consequences for front line services if proposed budget cuts proceed.
Mr McGimpsey said the demand to find a further £113m in efficiency savings during the next financial year - on top of £700m cuts already facing his department - would have a serious impact on the NHS.
"Today's Health and Social Care Service treats thousands more people every year and provides a greater range of services than ever before," he said.
"Compared to England, our funding gap lies at nearly £600m. Our spending does not match our needs, which are significantly higher.
"Trusts are already struggling to meet the demand for their services within the limited resources they have available," he said.
Mr McGimpsey warned of "severe consequences" for the most vulnerable groups, "especially the elderly who require more care and support than anyone else."
"The Executive and the Assembly tell me I must achieve these savings. Yet when trusts put forward proposals there is outrage and anger - notably from the public and those very same politicians who imposed the budget, because as we all know, health and social care matters so much to every man, woman and child.
"Today I am asking the Health Committee for its support in the fight for more funding for health and social care."
A spokesman for the Department of Finance said the efficiency savings facing Mr McGimpsey's department were part of overall pressures of £370m facing the executive primarily as a result of deferring water charges.
"No Minister argued that water charges should be introduced in order to protect the services provided by their department," he said.
"The proposed adjustments, designed in such a way as to prioritise the Health sector and to minimise the impact on it, were also agreed by the Executive."