HSE WEST BUDGET CUT BY 5 PERCENT

Date Published: 22-Feb-2011

Galway city’s two public hospitals must operate with almost 30 million euro less this year.

This evening’s meeting of the regional health forum heard that the HSE West 2011 budget has been slashed by 5 percent.

The HSE West’s Regional Director of operations, John Hennessy told members that both UHG and Merlin Park hospital in the city must operate within a combined budget of almost 243 million euro – 23 million euro less than last year.

Portiuncula hospital’s budget in Ballinasloe has also been slashed by almost six million euro to 41 million euro.

Speaking after the meeting, John Hennessy said they would go after the drugs companies, energy suppliers and health insurers for the savings to avoid affecting frontline services.