South’s health care fund cut by €115m

With €115 million less to spend in 2012 and down more than 4,500 staff from a peak five years ago, a series of cuts are set to further decimate health services in the south of the country.

Bed closures in acute hospitals, elderly care units, and mental health services are among the cutbacks outlined in the HSE South regional service plan, which was published yesterday.

With the exception of politically sensitive child care services, no aspect of the health service escaped, with €28m slashed from hospital budgets, where carryover deficits in excess of €26m bring the total burden to €55m for 2012.