HSE break-even plan ‘will hit taxpayers’

THE Health Service Executive’s (HSE) decision to close the orthopaedic department at Our Lady’s Hospital in Co Meath, during December as part of their “break-even” plan will result in taxpayers paying more for patients to be treated in private hospitals, nurses warned yesterday.

The Navan hospital is the main orthopaedic centre for the north-east. Around 200 people undergo elective procedures at the orthopaedic unit every month but the HSE has claimed that only six patients had procedures booked for December.

The health authority also pointed out that the department was ahead of procedures set for the year, with 1,603 elective procedures performed at the end of September of which 331 were major joint replacements.