Harsh cutbacks in healthcare budget on way, warns Harney
Mary Harney: Harsh cuts in health spending are on the way. Photo: PA
Friday July 23 2010
HARSH cuts in health spending are on the way, biting into services in a far deeper way than anything seen so far, Health Minister Mary Harney warned yesterday.
She said the slashing of public spending will have "serious consequences" for health services next year.
Ms Harney said the health service accounted for 28pc of public spending so the magnitude of the €3bn savings needed across all government departments in 2011 would have serious knock-on effects.
Although it has been suggested that the health budget could be shaved by €600m, the minister said no figure had yet been finalised.
"I can't speculate on the scale of the figure -- that is not agreed yet. It will be substantial. I don't want to be dishonest about that," Ms Harney said.
The Health Service Executive West, which is worst-hit and heading for a €90bn deficit this year, confirmed yesterday that hospital ward closures were being imposed to cut costs.
A spokesman said local managers were working with their teams to finalise break-even plans and it was anticipated that these "will affect some patients, clients and staff". But managers were working to minimise these effects.
He confirmed that one ward in Limerick Regional Hospital will change from a seven- to five-day working week.
Closures
One ward and a theatre are to be closed at the Regional Orthopaedic Hospital in Limerick and 25 in-patient beds at Ennis, Co Clare, and Nenagh, Co Tipperary, hospitals are close.
Ear, nose and throat services are being suspended in the mid-west and car-parking charges are going up in a desperate bid to raise revenue.
Some of the major teaching hospitals in Dublin have also had to close scores of beds between them to stay within budget in 2010, contributing to large numbers of patients on A&E trolleys.
Ms Harney warned yesterday that belts would have to be tightened further by hospitals next year and they would have to find ways to overhaul how they operate to reduce inefficiencies.
She said this would include treating more patients on a day-care basis, and avoiding overnight stays which are more costly and take up beds.
"We still have low levels of same-day admission for surgery. It is down below 40pc in many hospitals; it should be closer to 70pc," Ms Harney said.
"We have got to look at every possible way of minimising services, including work practices, for example. That is an exercise that will be under way in next few weeks."
The health budget was cut by €1bn last year but much of this was due to reductions in public pay.
It is expected that more charges will be imposed. The prescription charge for medical card holders, due to begin in September will bring in €2m a month and drugs subsidies are also expected to be reduced.
The amount paid by people who have availed of the Fair Deal nursing-home scheme may also be increased.
- Eilish O'Regan Health Correspondent
Irish Independent
