RATES of absenteeism in Irish hospitals cannot be justified according to Minister for Health Mary Harney, who has criticised Galway University Hospital in particular.

During a Fine Gael Private Members’ debate on health cuts, Ms Harney said the issue that had to be addressed “above all else in some hospitals” was absenteeism.

“The level of absenteeism at Galway University Hospitals at 7 per cent is twice what it should be. It is extraordinary that if you work in the public services generally you are more likely to be out sick than if you work in the private sector. And I don’t know why that should be the case.”

She said the absenteeism in Galway was costing more than €140,000 a week, while Sligo General Hospital had an absentee rate of just under 5 per cent or 9,222 hours a month.

She said that in Our Lady’s Hospital in Navan it was 4.74 per cent or 3,549 hours a month, 10,392 hours a month in Letterkenny, and 4,982 hours a month at Portiuncula. “The HSE is working with these hospitals to address the absentee issue but all of us have to be at one that these rates of absenteeism in our health service cannot be justified.”

Ms Harney called on the Opposition to “confront” those seeking political support for the challenges they face “with the challenges they can address”, such as absenteeism.

The 2010 health budget was €15.3 billion or 27 per cent of Government spending and the Minister said there was “going to be considerable reduction in public spending in areas like health. That will be the story no matter who sits in this seat or what parties make up this Government.”

Fine Gael spokesman Dr James Reilly said “the Government is pouring €34 billion into a dead bank and is planning to cut health spending next year by at least €600 million without introducing any meaningful reform”.