IMPACT seeks rethink of health cuts

The IMPACT trade union has called on Health Minister Micheal Martin to rethink his plans to implement spending and job cuts in the health services.

The union said it is uncertain how these cuts would affect hospital services.

Speaking after a meeting with the Western Health Board today, spokesman Kevin Callinan said the board confirmed that it will have to seek redundancies rather than halt the hiring of new staff.

The WHB and the Government are currently negotiating the scale of the job cuts, with the board claiming it must lay off 200 workers to meet spending reductions ordered by the Government.

The Department of Health had insisted that the savings could be made by not filling 85 proposed positions.