Leaked HSE study: ‘brutal’ cuts must end

The era of "brutal" health cuts must end now and be replaced by multi-year budget hikes or a cross-party review of spending to ensure a "realistic minimal" funding plan can be drawn up.

The drastic call has been made by an unpublished HSE internal report into the ongoing financial crisis that is continuing to damage the system and is central to the medical cards, waiting lists, hospital bed closures and disability cutbacks scandals.

According to the leaked document, which despite being written in March has only emerged as the final details of Budget 2015 are being discussed, cuts euphemistically described as “performance and productivity gains” have now “run their course”.