Non-emergency surgery may be axed to end of year

Date Published: 05-Aug-2010

By Dara Bradley and Darragh McDonagh

The HSE West is planning to cancel all elective operations for the remainder of the year at University Hospital Galway.

The Galway City Tribune has learned that staff at the city hospital have been asked to establish how much money could be saved if elective surgeries ceased for the last four months of 2010.

The plan, if implemented, would result in the cancellation of all non-emergency operations at UHG – it would inevitably lead to more closures of theatres, wards and beds and longer waiting lists.

A hospital source said the proposal is being “seriously considered” by the HSE.

In addition, an internal report seen by the Galway City Tribune reveals major cutbacks in services are on the way in order to rein in spending in hospitals’ budgets across the west, including Galway.

One proposal includes the “termination of 1,000 temporary contracts for six months (which) would yield savings of €15m to €20m”. This would affect 230 contract workers at Merlin Park and UHG.

In a move that will shock nursing unions, the report advocates “using less senior nursing staff to provide additional cover for shifts” and using cheaper “newly-qualified staff” instead.

In order to reduce overtime it recommends that the basic rate of hospital doctor hours should be increased to 48 hours a week. It recommends doctors work 12 hour shifts from 7am to 7pm.

For the full story, see the Galway City Tribune.