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Letterkenny Hospital services
"under threat"
20.02.12
KEY services at
Letterkenny Hospital are under threat due to further
budget cuts revealed in the HSE West Service Plan,
Donegal North East TD Charlie McConalogue warned
today. The Fianna Fáil deputy said he was "gravely
concerned" about the impact on patients of the cuts
to Donegal health service this year.
"Letterkenny General Hospital spent approximately
€105 million in 2011. This was an €8 million
overspend on their allocated budget,” said Deputy
McConalogue.
“The HSE plan has now cut this budget to €92.7
million for 2012 - a reduction of €4.3 million on
last year. The plan has been approved by the
Minister for Health, Dr James Reilly and he has
insisted that all hospitals must now come in on
budget.
"This would mean a reduction in spending at
Letterkenny General Hospital this year of over €12
million. Such a significant cut in one year is
totally unacceptable and would put unbearable
pressure on the hospitals services."
Deputy McConalogue said Dr Reilly's and the HSE's
policy "must be reconsidered".
"Letterkenny General Hospital has been rated among
the top three hospitals in the country in terms of
value for money and efficiency. When I raised this
issue at the Oireachtas Health Committee with the
Minister Reilly and the chief executive of the HSE,
Cathal McGee, they said Letterkenny will be forced
to scale back services in order to reduce their
budget. The approach is to simply cut headline
budget figures for short term financial gain,
without any regard for the impact on patient care. |
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Letterkenny Hospital. |
"The progress in
developing services at Letterkenny General Hospital
over the years is now being put in danger by the
decision to force a budget cut of almost 11% in one
year. Pacemaker and defibrillator insertion services
have already been suspended at the end of last year
as a result of budget curtailments. Now patients
have to travel to Dublin and Galway to get this
service."
He added: “Health services are not a luxury and they
must be protected. Minister James Reilly must get
the message loud and clear that the people of
Donegal will not stand over any downgrading of
Letterkenny General Hospital,” said Deputy
McConalogue. |
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