HSE warns managers liable for excess costs

THE HSE’s emergency cost-cutting drive has resulted in managers at one of the capital’s busiest hospitals being warned they are “personally” liable for any agency worker costs exceeding a newly imposed cap.

The warning has been issued to officials at Connolly Hospital in Blanchardstown, Dublin, just days after the HSE confirmed it is facing a €400 million budget overspend by the end of the year unless action is taken.

Internal correspondence from the HSE’s regional director of operations for Dublin North East, Stephen Mulvany, said from now on, the hospital cannot spend more than €500,000 per month on agency workers, overtime or out-sourced domestic personnel.