Health service to need an extra €600m, says Siptu

Siptu claims the health system is likely to need an addtional €600m this year — but questions where the additional monies can be found.

In its Liberty magazine, union economist Marie Sherlock wrote that it is not clear where funding will come from to shorten waiting list times, expand ambulance services, increase funding for fair deal units, and recruit more nurses.

She said huge changes and cost efficiencies were promised arising from the disbandment of the HSE and the establishment of hospital trusts, but that the history of major changes to health systems across the world suggests money has to be spent before it can be saved.