HSE ‘being nursed back to health’ with funds hike

Health Minister Leo Varadkar has claimed the HSE’s budget plans for next year mean the "battered and bruised" system is finally being nursed back to health, despite fears it will not address chronic waiting list and emergency department problems.

The senior cabinet member made the claims at the launch of the major document, which outlines exactly how public money will be spent in the system next year, yesterday.

However, while interest groups welcomed the end to “a cycle of brutal cuts”, they warned the plan leaves “literally” no room for increased demand, has failed to address all service needs and means the system is a patient “where you’ve stopped the bleeding but they’re still critical”.