Health Minister accused of hiding behind HSE to avoid freeze fall out

A PATIENTS’ support group has accused Health Minister Mary Harney of hiding behind the Health Service Executive in a bid to avoid the fall out of the authority’s cost saving measures.

Patients Together spokeswoman Janette Byrne said the stringent spending controls were having a knock-on effect on patient care. “Patients are not complaining loudly because they feel nobody gives a damnanymore and that the minister has gone into hiding behind the HSE,” she said.

“People are contacting me to complain about the health service but they are not as willing to speak out any more.”