Future of health board in jeopardy

THE future of one of the country’s largest health boards has been thrown into turmoil after members refused to adopt its budget in protest over plans to drop politicians from such bodies.

A crunch meeting of the South Eastern Health Board has been rescheduled for tomorrow, after its January session was adjourned in chaos. Chief executive Pat McLoughlin sought legal advice over the weekend on what will happen if the board can’t pass its budget for 2004.

Under law, the board must adopt its 705,000 budget by tomorrow. But local councillors who are board members say they can’t approve spending for a full year if they are to be axed from the authority halfway through that year.

Health Minister Micheál Martin confirmed last week that councillors will be dropped from health boards after the local elections in June. But health boards will remain in operation until the new Health Service Executive is introduced next January.

Councillors are concerned about passing a budget plan for a year when they would only be there for half of it. Their case has been backed by the Association of Health Boards, which is planning to protest over plans to drop councillors from the boards.

Former Clonmel mayor and Fianna Fáil councillor Tom Ambrose said the situation was ridiculous.

Fianna Fáil councillor John Coonan supported his stance.