The Western Health Board has promised to study the impact on patients of its decision to cut its staff by 200. The board says it has to make a €1.15 million saving, ordered by the Department of Health and Children.
Some 200 staff working in the clerical, administration and management areas will not have their temporary contracts renewed when they expire. The members of the health board were informed of the move in a letter this week from the board's chief executive officer, Dr Sheelah Ryan.
The board has a budget overrun of €13 million - and rising - and is one of several which exceeded allocations this year. The winter vomiting bug and high drug costs contributed to the deficit, which has already closed wards temporarily and cut back elective procedures during the summer. The board, with a staff of 8,000, is the first to announce job cuts as part of the Department's financial stringencies. It said yesterday: "A full audit of the effects of the decision would be carried out to ensure that direct patient services are not affected." However, it acknowledged there were likely to be delays in the general administration of services.
The board said it received a directive from the Department of Health and Children on July 17th conveying a Government decision to cut clerical, administration and management posts by 85. This was to be achieved through non-filling of positions. The Department also said a financial levy would be imposed, and it would notify the health board in due course.
That levy was subsequently confirmed at €1.15 million, and the board said this is "well in excess" of the average cost of 85 posts in these areas. The Department then clarified that the financial target was the priority, and the number of staff cuts was "indicative only".
The board said it has some discretion to apply the policy to other grades of staff, provided there is a "minimum impact on direct patient services".
Quotas are to be sought in several areas, and staff are being consulted about how these can be achieved. Meetings are being arranged with the unions to discuss their concerns, the board said.
It is expected that most of those affected will be members of Impact. SIPTU confirmed yesterday it had received no contact from the health board and did not expect any of its members to be affected.
Earlier this summer, Dr Ryan outlined the seriousness of the budgetary position at a special board meeting She attributed these to three factors: a 15 per cent increase in activity during the year to date; hospital core pressure and the "no policy change" on medical inflation, changing medical practice and a delay in getting case mix recognition of new investments.
She also referred to capital difficulties over a lack of National Development Plan monies for aids and appliances, equipment and plant, and health and safety issues.
Several measures, including a delay in €4 million worth of new developments for community services, were agreed to reduce the deficit to about €6.5 million by the end of the year. Dr Ryan also said efforts would be made to facilitate staff seeking "term time" leave. She gave a public reassurance on the continuity of patient services and her commitment to the patient service plan.