HSE has no contingency funds even as budget increases by €600m

The HSE faces significant budgetary pressures in 2018, including having to make savings of €346m, with no contingency fund, and “no capacity” to respond to further pay or other pressures.

The warnings are in its 2018 National Service Plan (NSP), funded to the tune of €14.6bn, an increase of €608m (4.4%) on 2017.

Of this, just €196.1m will go towards enhancing existing services and new service developments, but with €143.5m held back by the Department of Health pending approval of implementation plans or commencement of specific developments.