Unions: HSE leaving us in dark over cuts

UNIONS have complained of being left in the dark over widely expected cutbacks in the health services over the coming months.

No immediate cuts were ordered by the Health Service Executive at its monthly board meeting yesterday, but management were left in no doubt that spending would have to be reined in sooner rather than later.

A renewed recruitment freeze, a ban on the use of agency workers and locums, and the temporary closure of some hospital wards are all being considered in an attempt to bring costs back within budget.

HSE management informed the board that they had already overspent by €85 million in the first three months of this year.

This comes after HSE chief executive Professor Brendan Drumm warned last month he needed to make €300m in savings across the system this year.

According to sources, more than half the overspend so far was blamed on an unexpected increase in the demand for medical cards and drug refund schemes, which it was noted coincided with the recent rise in unemployment.

A 30% increase in the number of GP visit cards alone was reported, along with an 11% increase in the number of patients using the GP out-of-hours scheme.

The HSE would not discuss yesterday’s meeting.

A spokesman said only that the board was meeting and there were “significant pressures on the health service budget”, which would be discussed.

However, unions representing the 100,000-plus staff employed throughout the health services said no news from the meeting did not mean good news as there was a suspicion the HSE would attempt to spring the cutbacks without consultation.

“There was talk previously of a meeting with the unions on Friday, but as of now we have heard nothing and there is no meeting arranged,” said Liam Doran, general secretary of the Irish Nurses’ Organisation, last night.