200 health board job losses still possible

THE 200 job cuts in the health services in Galway, Mayo and Roscommon, covered by the Western Health Board, are still on the cards.

Spending in the Western Health Board will now be scrutinised closely by the department for the rest of the year to ensure tight budget targets are reached.

Following a meeting with Department of Health officials last night, WHB chief executive Dr Sheelagh Ryan said there was still no guarantee there would not be job losses in the board.

After two hours of discussions at the Department of Health headquarters on the board’s controversial decision to cut 200 clerical and administrative posts to meet budgetary cutbacks, Dr Ryan said she received no guarantees regarding the job cuts.

The meeting was called to make Dr Ryan explain her position after Health Minister Micheál Martin had asked the board to justify the cuts. The minister had suggested the board could save 1.15m by not filling 85 jobs.

At the meeting Dr Ryan clarified the funding and staffing position in the board and department officials explained how it calculated its figures for the freezing of the jobs to make the required savings, a spokesman said. But Dr Ryan explained the problems she has in making these cuts.

“It was agreed a process would be put in place between the department and the board to monitor the progress made by the board to bring expenditure within approved spending limits.

“This is to achieve the required savings, in line with the accountability legislation, and in a manner which would have minimum impact on patient services,” a spokesman said.

SIPTU and IMPACT trade unions say they will resist cuts as they are likely to seriously affect health services.

SIPTU says the losses would lengthen waiting lists and endanger patients.