Funding cutbacks in the health sector are leading to a sharp fall in non-emergency admissions at two of Dublin's major teaching hospitals, new figures reveal.
A study by the Irish Patients' Association says the Mater hospital and the James Connolly Memorial Hospital admitted about a third less patients in March for planned treatment than in the same month last year.
The reduction, which was highlighted in an analysis of Eastern Regional Health Authority figures, conflicts with commitments by the Department of Health to maintain service activity at 2002 levels.
The figures emerge as the Minister for Health, Mr Martin, faces more pressure over his management of the SARS threat and the strike by public health doctors.
Fine Gael has tabled a Dáil motion condemning Mr Martin, who is preparing this week to make definitive plans for the biggest reorganisation of the health service since 1970. The Irish Patients' Association study shows that the Mater hospital in central Dublin recorded a year-on-year drop in planned admissions of 34.5 per cent during March. The James Connolly Memorial Hospital in Blanchardstown admitted 28 per cent less patients.
The chairman of the association, Mr Stephen McMahon, said the Mater had reduced service capacity by 104 beds in recent weeks. The IPA analysis also shows an 8.3 per cent increase in accident and emergency admissions at the hospital in the first three months of this year, compared with the same period in 2002. This rise could not be sustained for the rest of the year, it said. A consultant at the Mater said staff were concerned that the hospital was being turned into Dublin's city centre emergency hospital "by stealth". "The highly-trained staff at the hospital are effectively doing nothing except providing an emergency service," he said.
Fine Gael's private member motion said Mr Martin's response to SARS and the doctors' strike had further eroded confidence in the health service. The party's health spokeswoman, Ms Olivia Mitchell, said: "We have seen inadequate, confusing and contradictory communications. We are only now getting a comprehensive public information campaign."
The Cabinet subcommittee on health meets tomorrow to discuss extensive reorganisation plans which are likely to see the abolition of the health boards and their replacement by four regional health executives.
The committee is expected to decide whether to proceed immediately with the preparation of a memorandum for Government based on two separate reports on funding and structures. The alternative is to wait until a separate report on manpower is submitted in the next couple of weeks. Political sources say these reports form the basis for the Government's plans.