‘Cut funds to hospitals that break top-up rules’

The HSE’s “service plan” budget document should allow funding to be cut from hospitals if they fail to address the top-up payments scandal, health bosses have been told.

Health committee chair and Fine Gael TD Jerry Buttimer made the claim as the report — which provides specific details on where the HSE will cut spending in 2014 — was being discussed last night before being sent to Health Minister James Reilly.

As in previous years, the minister has 21 days to either make changes or publish the report in its entirety, paving the way for cuts of at least €666m in the health service over the next 12 months.