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.

Some of the existing health services were dictated by local political factors, rather than real health considerations. We are going to have to face painful choices.

Our politicians and community leaders must concentrate on the bigger picture, and not waste time, money, and energy on mere on sectional or selfish considerations.

We pride ourselves in being a republic, and it is necessary that our politicians and the public servants should keep the broadest picture of the republic in focus. There should no question about politicians using their political clout to secure local preferment for their own constituencies at the expense of the broader national interest. Such conduct is a betrayal of the republic. It is also a betrayal of all those brave men and women who did so much to secure our freedom.

There will have to be cutbacks, but these should not be proportionately across the boards without regard to necessity. Where there is waste this should be eliminated.

It is important that the HSE should not target the hundreds of temporary jobs within the health service as a convenient expedient. Temporary workers are normally the first to be let go in most other walks of life, but in the area of health they may often be nurses and even young doctors in vital frontline services.

The HSE must take a broader look and concentrate on actual health requirements, rather than administrative expediency. When it comes to health considerations, the frontline services are much more important that the bureaucratic office jobs, and consequently any job cuts should reflect a discerning selectivity.