UP TO 120 temporary jobs may have to be cut at the State's largest children's hospital if it is to live within its current budget and employment ceiling.
Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children in Crumlin, Dublin, has told staff in a circular that there will have to be "significant reductions in agency and temporary staff numbers".
It points out that this year the hospital has been given €14 million less than what it is projected to need by the Health Service Executive and has been ordered to make savings of €7 million.
The hospital also says that as a result of growing activity levels its staffing and expenditure have increased.
Internal HSE figures indicate that the hospital had gone €3.2 million over budget in the first three months of this year and also had 268 staff over its approved employment ceiling at that stage. Hospital sources indicate the HSE told it to reduce its staff ceiling by about 120.
The hospital has asked heads of all departments to identify where posts can be cut. There have also been preliminary discussions with the HSE about possible bed closures. In a message to staff last week, Archbishop of Dublin Dr Diarmuid Martin, who is chairman of the Crumlin hospital board, said it was "with deep and serious concern that the board decided that the cost containment measures be introduced". He added: "The board has appealed to the HSE and the Minister for Health and Children to increase the funding available to the hospital and made it clear in doing so that the services we provide will have to be reduced if additional funding is not made available."
The trade union Impact, which represents clerical, administrative and therapy grades in the health sector and whose members are currently engaged in industrial action over the HSE's tighter employment controls, said it was expected that the staff cuts in Crumlin will affect most departments, with a broad range of jobs to be cut.
Crumlin hospital, in a statement, said permanent employees' contracts will not be affected by the cost-cutting measures. It said: "There is ongoing discussion and consultation in house in relation to identifying posts which will not be replaced. All decisions made will be kept under review on an on-going basis. The hospital cannot, at this time, confirm the exact number of temporary and agency posts that will be involved."
The HSE said it was aware of the financial challenges faced by the hospital. It said it has been working with hospital management over the past few months "to assist them with the task of providing services while managing their budget and will continue to do so". It added that the hospital's budget has increased by 38.9 per cent since 2004.