THE HEALTH Service Executive (HSE) South yesterday announced that it is to seek savings of €80 million for 2009, though it said it was too early to predict the impact of cost cutting on job numbers at the agency which employs over 25,000 people.
The HSE South yesterday unveiled its service plan for 2009 which seeks to achieve savings of €35 million in primary, community and continuing care; €30 million in its Southern Hospitals Group; and €15 million in its South Eastern Hospitals Group.
According to HSE South assistant national director Barry O’Brien, some €22 million of the overall savings of €80 million will be achieved through value for money (VFM) initiatives including a 3 per cent reduction in management/administration payroll costs.
The remaining €58 million savings will be achieved through “service reconfiguration, operational improvements and cost management”, including a move to reduce case treatments from seven days down to five and two days, said Mr O’Brien.
He said the HSE South had briefed staff and unions on the proposals and that it had set February 2nd as the date for implementation as the agency had already lost two weeks and by February would have to effect 12 months’ savings over 11 months.
Mr O’Brien said it was too early to predict the impact on job numbers at the HSE South as the reconfiguration of services would lead to redeployment of staff in some areas while there would also be a move to reduce overtime and agency costs.
The service plan also includes provision for 63 new primary care teams by the end of 2009, with some 502 beds being introduced to cater for older persons, including 295 additional beds and 207 replacement beds.
However, the service plan includes a proposal to close Heatherside Hospital in Doneraile in north Cork which caters for older people with mental health issues, with all 42 residents being transferred to St Stephen’s Hospital Campus at Sarsfield’s Court in Glanmire. Mr O’Brien said only two of the remaining residents are from the north Cork area and the closure would achieve savings of about €800,000.
HSE hospitals network manager Southern Group Gerry O’Dwyer refused to rule out the possibility that emergency services at a number of Cork city and county hospitals may be curtailed or withdrawn and centralised at Cork University Hospital.
