Politicians, medical staff and unions were united in opposition yesterday to the 200 job cuts sought by the Western Health Board as part of Government health savings.
The Labour TD for Galway West, Mr Michael D. Higgins, said it represented "another example of the degradation of politics by Fianna Fáil", while the Mayo independent TD, Dr Jerry Cowley, said he found it hard to believe that patients would not be affected by the measure.
The Western Health Board was making no further comment yesterday, following the "surprise" expressed by the Minister for Health and Children, Mr Martin, at the number of jobs involved. Mr Martin has said the cuts involved non-filling of 85 posts.
The board said its statement of Thursday, in which it said the measure was being taken because the department was imposing a levy on it of €1.15 million, "still stood".
This could only be achieved by saving on 200 jobs held on temporary contracts in the clerical, administrative and managerial areas, it said. The board, which holds responsibility for public health services in Galway, Mayo and Roscommon, is already €13 million over budget this year.
The union IMPACT is seeking a meeting with the health board early next week and condemned the lack of consultation in advance of the announcement.
SIPTU has also condemned the decision. Ms Helen Murphy, president of Galway branch of SIPTU and nursing shop steward at University College Hospital, Galway, (UCHG) said she was "shocked at the way these job cuts were announced" and their extent.
Mr Hugh Bredin, a consultant at UCHG and a former president of the Irish Medical Organisation, said he would be worried about the impact on patient care.
He called yesterday for clarification on the difference of opinion between the Department and the health board and immediate identification of the jobs involved. "I would question why the cost overrun by the health boards is only being addressed now," Mr Bredin said.
Mr Higgins said the "deceit and evasion of Fianna Fáil's election campaign on cutbacks in the health service" was "undermining faith in the political system and fuelling public cynicism about politics".
"The ministerial smugness at having successfully conned the public has to be experienced to be believed this summer, as the entire Cabinet strutted around Galway," Mr Higgins said.
"On a radio interview four days prior to the election, the Minister for Health replied with the words 'absolutely not' to a question about whether cuts were planned in the health services."
This "stealth cut" was "the latest in a series which began with a €32 million cut in overseas development aid", Mr Higgins said. This had hit the voiceless in other parts of the world, who were seen as a "soft touch" by Fianna Fáil.
Meanwhile, Dr Cowley said it was hard to see how patient care would not be affected, unless the jobs were not necessary in the first place.
The Western Health Board was underfunded, having received an increase of only 9 per cent this year compared to 15 to 18 per cent for other health boards. This was another example of "neglect of the west" by this Government.
Dr Cowley, who called for the abolition of all health boards in his maiden Dáil speech, said his concern was for duplication of administrative structures. This move did not reflect any overall carefully thought-out strategic plan to reform the health services, he said.
"If there are to be cuts, I would question the 30-strong membership of the health board, with all of those people getting travel allowances, mileage and subsistence.
"This is not going to do anything for the 11 consultants' posts not yet approved for this region, nor will it bring an orthopaedic unit or a rheumatology unit to Mayo General Hospital," Dr Cowley continued. "It is not going to reduce waiting lists."