Health cuts - Fairness the key in cutbacks

Current discussions about cuts in the health services are likely to drag on for some time, because they have frightening implications.

Nobody can doubt that there must be cuts to the health budget, but it is important that these are not implemented at the expense of necessary frontline services.

We must avoid petty politics and refrain from getting involved in the blame game. It is not the time to be arguing about who are responsible for the current difficulties, but about how to tackle the problems in a way that will not undermine vital services. There is no doubt that there is crass wastage, not only in the Health Service Executive, but throughout the public service.