Michael McGimpsey has supported the thoughts of a senior health official's over the fact that nearly 4,000 jobs would be cut in heath department if Stormont's draft budget is approved.

Regional Health and Social Care Board chief executive, John Compton, said waiting times might as well get stretched too.

It was further pronounced on Wednesday the health budget would increase by £326m.

But the health minister assured that Mr Compton's comment might prove to be of "several million pounds short".

He stated that in his opinion up to 4,000 jobs would be lost was a "fairly accurate assessment"."The board will be considering in January a detailed response to the budget that will be much more specific, but clearly we will have to examine where we are providing services right across the Province," he added.

"There will also be issues around the voluntary and community sector," Mr McGimpsey added.

He claims of his continuous warnings for quite a long time at the same time about job losses, focusing more on closures and about radical changes made in order to offer the services.