Health service - Efficiency, not money, is the solution

HEALTH Minister Mary Harney announced plans yesterday for spending her department’s mammoth budget of €15 billion, which comes to a quarter of the Government’s whole Budget.

She intends to spend €395 million extra next year, with almost two-thirds of that going on services for older people.

The aim is to increase the number of home care packages, and support for elderly people living at home with their families, or in their own communities, as well as those in residential care.