Harney: Freeze will only have an impact on 1,000 jobs

THE controversial recruitment freeze in the Health Service Executive will only affect less than 1,000 people out of a health system that employs 120,000 if it continues until the end of the year, Health Minister Mary Harney claimed yesterday.

There was no more money available from the taxpayer so the health service must stay within budget, be innovative and do things differently so patients got the services they need, she said.

“There is a challenge here for everybody concerned and that is to reorganise and to make sure that patients are not adversely affected.”