Healthcare - Financial and hygiene concerns

The fear that up to 100,000 people could lose medical cards due to the Government’s plan to cut €660m from funding for the Department of Health is leading to a considerable degree of anxiety among older vulnerable people. This seems to be a perennial problem for successive governments.

Health Minister James Reilly has been faced with the largest cuts from his department, but part of the problem is that the department has failed to achieve the savings projected for the earlier cuts announced.

Before the end of each year the HSE has required extra funding to help it cover the final months. Over the past five years the need for such extra funding has ranged from €148m to €595m. Dr Reilly has suggested the overrun needed this year will range between €150m and €200m, but others have suggested it will be even higher. The current health problems are considered so difficult that henceforth both Taoiseach Enda Kenny and the Public Expenditure Minister Brendan Howlin have been given oversight responsibilities for the health department’s budget.