Health service - Further cuts could be disastrous

Ireland’s shambolic health service has been compared by embattled Health Minister Dr James Reilly to a massive tanker that can’t be turned around overnight.

Ironically, his analogy could turn out to be prophetic because when huge tankers run aground they invariably cause major disasters and the HSE is now perilously close to the rocks.

Financially, the Government’s biggest spending department is not just strapped for cash — its budget overrun is so big the HSE is preparing to embark on a potential collision course with the unions in a bid to save money by squeezing every last ounce of work from the Haddington Road agreement.