Warning in relation to swingeing cuts at children's hospital

Swingeing health cuts at Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital in Crumlin will see the number of in-patients treated fall by 1,100, Fine Gael claimed today.

As a delegation of politicians revealed plans to see first hand the impact of ward and bed closures the opposition party also accused the Health Service Executive of spending €60m on taxis.

The cross-party group will meet the board of management tomorrow to assess reductions at the site ahead of a Dáil motion calling on the Government to reverse the cuts.

The party’s health spokesman Dr James Reilly said the cuts will lead to a reduction of 8,483 attendances and 1,100 admissions at the hospital in 2009.

“The cutbacks at Crumlin are among the most cruel and the most senseless I have seen,” Dr Reilly said.

Fine Gael transport spokesperson, Fergus O’Dowd, also claimed the HSE spent over €60m on taxis in 2007 and 2008.

“While there is clearly a need to provide transport for patients, the overall spend of €60m in two years is unacceptably high,” he said.

“This is the kind of waste that must be cut out through more sensible spending.

“There was no doubt that savings could be made on this massive bill allowing the reversal of cutbacks at Crumlin Children’s Hospital.”

The Dáil’s committee on health and children has also invited HSE chief executive Professor Brendan Drumm to discuss the situation in the coming weeks.

Hospital management have revealed they have been forced to close wards, reduce outpatient appointments and shut theatres in the upcoming months in a bid to meet budget cuts.

Parents of sick children have also raised concerns over vital surgeries being postponed.

Fine Gael is to put forward a private members’ motion in the Dail tomorrow night calling on the Government to reverse the cutbacks at Crumlin.

The members of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children arranged the fact-finding visit ahead of a forthcoming committee hearing.

“The visit will ensure the committee are fully briefed and informed before speaking to Professor Drumm on this matter,” a spokesman added.