Budget restrictions force hospitals to cut services

HOSPITALS in Cork and Kerry have been forced to cut services this summer to keep within budget.

The Southern Health Board yesterday admitted that some medical procedures will soon be reduced at Cork University Hospital and Tralee General Hospital.

CUH will temporarily close a 24-bed day ward for 10 weeks from June 23 to September 1. Planned surgery will be cut back during the 10-week period.

“Taking these pre-emptive and careful steps now will help facilitate the greatly increased and often unpredictable demands on our hospital in the winter months,” CUH general manager Tony McNamara said.

In Tralee, where the hospital has exceeded its €52m budget by €300,000, services will also be axed.

“Tralee General Hospital must live within its allocated budget,” hospital manager Margie Lynch said.

A 30-bed general ward will close at TGH during June, July and August, and planned surgery procedures will be reduced.

Cork city councillor Colm Burke said SHB hospital consultants have been asked to cut day procedures by a third. The board has rejected this claim. Mr Burke is seeking a detailed breakdown of spending cuts in SHB hospitals this summer.

It also emerged yesterday that surgery waiting lists on Dublin’s northside are up 35%.

Fine Gael is demanding a complete reform of the health services on the northside of the city. Deputy leader Richard Bruton last night appealed to the Taoiseach to immediately tackle the health service crisis there.

“The current waiting list for surgery stands at 9,971, up 35% since the Taoiseach took office, and it represents a third of the entire national waiting list. Beds are being blocked by patients who could be better accommodated elsewhere,” Mr Bruton said.

Around 35,000 patients will spend more than 24 hours in A&E departments in north Dublin hospitals this year.

Recent cutbacks have resulted in the Mater Hospital losing 115 beds, Beaumont 100 beds and Blanchardstown 32 beds. If they remain closed for an entire year, 9,000 patients will be unable to access treatment.