Gruffalo
05-05-2010, 10:13 PM
One of the country's leading hospitals today confirmed it has to close 52 beds to stay within budget.
Beaumont Hospital in Dublin announced a 33-bed ward will shut within days, with the rest axed in the next two weeks as management tries to meet a €19m shortfall.
Specialist neurosurgery, transplantation and cancer services will not be included in the cull, it added.
With 15 people already on trolleys in Beaumont's emergency department, patient's groups warned the public will be effected by any cuts.
Stephen McMahon, of the Irish Patients' Association, said there were concerns more hospitals could be forced to do the same.
"The real worry is that we know a lot of hospitals are significantly over budget," said Mr McMahon.
"We are concerned that this could happen around the country."
The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) earlier warned patients are already suffering due to a merciless recruitment embargo across the sector.
But Mr McMahon said it was time for health staff - who are working to rule - to pass on financial information on each hospital to management and the Health Service Executive (HSE).
"We are concerned senior management of the HSE are like pilots flying at night who don't know how much fuel is in the tank," he continued.
"Hospitals that are significantly over budget may have a crash landing on services they provide patients before the HSE knows."
http://www.independent.ie/national-news/hospital-to-shed-52-beds-amid-funds-shortfall-2166245.html
Another sign that FF and Mary Harney have made an absolute balls of the health system.
Beaumont Hospital in Dublin announced a 33-bed ward will shut within days, with the rest axed in the next two weeks as management tries to meet a €19m shortfall.
Specialist neurosurgery, transplantation and cancer services will not be included in the cull, it added.
With 15 people already on trolleys in Beaumont's emergency department, patient's groups warned the public will be effected by any cuts.
Stephen McMahon, of the Irish Patients' Association, said there were concerns more hospitals could be forced to do the same.
"The real worry is that we know a lot of hospitals are significantly over budget," said Mr McMahon.
"We are concerned that this could happen around the country."
The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) earlier warned patients are already suffering due to a merciless recruitment embargo across the sector.
But Mr McMahon said it was time for health staff - who are working to rule - to pass on financial information on each hospital to management and the Health Service Executive (HSE).
"We are concerned senior management of the HSE are like pilots flying at night who don't know how much fuel is in the tank," he continued.
"Hospitals that are significantly over budget may have a crash landing on services they provide patients before the HSE knows."
http://www.independent.ie/national-news/hospital-to-shed-52-beds-amid-funds-shortfall-2166245.html
Another sign that FF and Mary Harney have made an absolute balls of the health system.