Health service cutbacks will endanger lives

LIVES will be put at risk by the impending cutbacks in the health service, a top hospital consultant warned yesterday.

Opposition parties, local representatives and health officials also rounded on Health Minister Micheál Martin over plans to cut 200 jobs at the Western Health Board.

Consultant neurologist Hugh Bredin from University College Hospital Galway said the job cuts would result in delays for patients awaiting treatments and lengthen waiting lists.

The former Irish Medical Organisation president said he was worried the job losses would impact upon clinical services in the region and cancer treatment in particular.

Health sector unions said they would be resisting the 200 job cuts, which are being made to meet targets set by the Department of Health.

SIPTU Galway official Helen Murphy warned the cuts would impact upon patient care while IMPACT Galway chairperson Sophie O'Reilly said staff were now concerned about their jobs.

Vowing to fight the plan as there was no prior consultation, the unions warned it would have extremely serious consequences for the level of health care in the region.

Clarification is being sought from the Western Health Board on the specific areas to be affected by the cuts.

The job cuts in Galway, Mayo and Roscommon has led to a confrontation between Health Minister Micheál Martin and the health board management.

Minister Micheál Martin said his department had told the WHB not to fill 85 posts. The Minister says the cutting of 200 jobs will require an explanation from the health board.

Opposition parties continued to accuse the government of going back on pre-election promises that there would be no health cutbacks.

Meanwhile the Southern Health Board said it had no plans to reduce its services despite an 11 million budget overrun for the first half of the year.

The SHB, covering health services in Cork and Kerry, said talks took place with Department of Health officials in a bid to have almost 9.5 million reimbursed. Overruns include winter vomiting bug, pensions and medical costs for asylum seekers, the SHB claims. The SHB says remaining amounts would be covered by savings made in non-direct service related spending, such as advertising and stationery.

SIPTU Cork official Joe O'Flynn said cutbacks are already being made by the SHB through its unilateral action to reduce the hours worked by home helps who deal primarily with senior citizens. "It was scandalous the Health Board would target cost savings on the most vulnerable", Mr O'Flynn said.