HSE to cut €10m from midwest hospitals

CUTBACKS OF €10 million are to be imposed by the Health Service Executive on the midwest network of acute hospitals this year.

In a presentation to members of the HSE West Regional Health Forum, the manager of the Midwest Hospital Group, John Hennessy, said the budget for the hospital network this year would be €261.9 million – a drop of €13 million on the 2008 budgeted figure of €275 million.

Mr Hennessy said: “The 2009 budget allocation will require reconfiguration and service efficiencies in excess of €10 million.”

He said the HSE was looking at increased income of €6.9 million from service charges in 2009.

The cutbacks will affect the seven hospitals in the region: Limerick Regional Hospital, the Limerick Maternity Hospital, Limerick Orthodontic Hospital, Croom Orthopaedic Hospital, Nenagh general, Ennis general and St John’s Hospital.

Mr Hennessy said this would require a reduction in staffing levels of approximately 45 whole-time equivalents (WTE).

“In addition, a reduction of in-patient bed capacity is required [20 inpatient beds], the conversion of seven-day wards to five-day usage, and increased seasonal closures across the system while meeting service and financial targets.”