Up to 150 temporary jobs, many of them part-time, may be under threat at the Western Health Board (WHB) following yesterday's meeting between the chief executive officer of the board, Dr Sheelah Ryan, and Department of Health and Children officials.
The meeting ended without any public withdrawal by Dr Ryan of last week's statement which said savings sought by the department as part of wider Government spending cuts would cost 200 jobs.
She said after the meeting that she could give no guarantee there would not be job losses.
The Minister, Mr Martin, insisted last week that ?1.15 million could be saved if the WHB did not go ahead with filling 85 planned new posts. However, it is believed Dr Ryan told departmental officials that the WHB did not have 85 unfilled jobs.
In a statement, the department said a "process" would be put in place between it and the board to monitor the WHB's progress in bringing its spending within approved limits "in a manner which would have minimum impact on patient services".
Yesterday's meeting arose from a memo sent to members of the WHB by Dr Ryan, saying the savings sought by the department would cost 200 jobs. Mr Martin demanded an explanation as to how she arrived at this figure.
Yesterday's meeting is believed to have heard the figure included temporary, part-time jobs and may be closer to 150.
Today the WHB meets IMPACT, which represents a wide range of health service workers and has warned of the possibility of industrial action if jobs are cut across the health services.