HSE’s overspend soars to €300m

The HSE’s financial problems have surged to €300m, with hospitals €151m over- budget and the medical card scheme €92m in the red.

The latest financial performance update from the service shows that, by the end of June, the system was facing an overall 2012 over- spend of €298.7m — up from the previous estimate of €280m.

Among the worst-affected areas was the hospital sector, with the section’s €151m deficit including a worrying €10m overspend at Cork University Maternity Hospital.