HSE South will have to save €44m

The Health Service Executive (HSE) South will have to find savings of more than €44m at a time when its budget has been trimmed by €8.6m.

In addition, a planned 800-strong reduction in staffing numbers for 2013 means the HSE South will have almost 4,000 fewer staff by year end than in 2007.

Across the health service, staff levels have reduced by 11,268 since the peak of Sept 2007. The figures are contained in the HSE South regional service for 2013 plan, published this week.