Talks between unions and the Western Health Board on proposed job cuts are not expected to resume in Galway before next week, when the board will also have its first full meeting since the financial crisis became public.
The 30-strong board meets next Monday in Merlin Park Hospital, Galway, and the budgetary situation is item eight on the agenda.
A directive on July 17th from the Department of Health and Children for savings of €1.15 million on its €652 million budget led to the announcement just over a fortnight ago that 200 jobs would have to be cut in clerical/administrative and management areas. Unions have vowed to resist the job cuts, with Impact calling on the Minister to withdraw his savings directive, and SIPTU stating that it will only negotiate on savings in other areas of expenditure, such as travel allowances and the cost of office administration.
Both unions are awaiting further information from the board's chief executive officer, Dr Sheelah Ryan, in relation to a breakdown of expenditure.
Already, Dr Ryan has appeared to row back on the original figure of 200, by referring to it as an estimate, and it is expected that the figure on the table may be in the area of 150 to 170 job cuts. The Department of Health and Children summoned Dr Ryan to a meeting in Dublin last week to clarify how the figure of 200 posts was arrived at, when it had estimated that the savings could be made through leaving 85 posts vacant.
Yesterday, SIPTU's regional representative, Mr Joe Cunningham, said he was confident a detailed analysis of the financial situation would be supplied, and he expected it would be next week before talks would resume. Mr Shay Clinton of Impact in Galway said he would be writing to the health board to press for the information, and he would also be seeking an assurance that no lay-offs were already taking place.
Impact officials have been in touch with other health boards on their financial situation in advance of a meeting of the union's national health committee, according to Mr Clinton. Unions believe the row with the Western Health Board is only the start of a major confrontation over potential job cuts, and one which will have a direct impact on patient care.
Last week, a Galway doctor and Western Health Board member, Dr Martin Daly, said the Minister for Health and Children, Mr Martin, lacked political courage to reform health board structures. He said there were too many regional health authorities and a gross duplication of resources, and promised to raise this at the next health board meeting.