Reilly warns of difficult times for hospitals

HOSPITALS must stick to their budgets even if the measures needed attract negative publicity, Health Minister James Reilly has told the Health Service Executive.

The minister expressed his grave concern about the health authority’s 2011 budget overrun of €184 million in a letter to HSE chief executive Cathal Magee.

The HSE’s latest financial results show that hospitals are responsible for about €100m of the deficit, with community services responsible for about €34m.