The Health Service Executive today warned that plans it has drawn up to correct a projected €90 million overspend in the western region “will affect” some patients.
It said the HSE West had to “live within the budget we have been allocated” and that local managers were working with their teams to finalise break even plans. “We anticipate that these budget plans will affect some patients and clients”.
The HSE West said, however, that speculation suggesting it had decided to remove oncology services from Portiuncula Hospital in Ballinasloe, Galway was incorrect.
“No decision has been made to remove the oncology service from Portiuncula Hospital,” the HSE West said in a statement.
Some 2,000 people protested at Portiuncula Hospital last week warning that any possible downgrading of services there could result in the loss of lives.
East Galway Fianna Fáil TD Michael Kitt last week said if cutbacks designed to recoup the million deficit in funding for services in the west impacted on Portiuncula, he would walk away from politics.
The HSE said all options were being considered to ensure that the budget at Portiuncula was not overspent. It said hospital management would meet officials from Galway University Hospital and the regional director of operations’ office next week to explore every option available.
