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THE HSE’S PLAN TO cut €130 million from health spending over the rest of this year has been heavily criticised this evening.
The health service announced earlier that the cuts were being made in order to met its budget targets for 2012 as set by the government and the Troika. Announcing the cuts, the HSE acknowledged that it is “inevitable” they will have some impact on frontline service delivery.
Responding to news that the HSE intends to reduce the provision of Home Help services by 5.5 per cent as part of these cuts, trade union SIPTU said it will “vigorously oppose” the plan.
“What this [reduction] means in reality is that the elderly and other vulnerable people who depend on these services are to suffer in order to satisfy a book-keeping exercise which has already proven to be an abject failure,” said SIPTU organiser Ted Kenny.
Kenny said that the planned cuts are “in addition to a further financial attack on hospital services that will result in a reduction in the number of beds in wards and have an extremely adverse effect on the level of care provided to the general public”.
“The health care system is being pushed beyond breaking point. SIPTU members will not stand idly by and allow this attack on the sick and vulnerable to proceed.”
Meanwhile, Fianna Fáil spokesperson on health Bill Kelleher called on Minister for Health James Reilly to communicate with the public about these cuts.
“People across the country are wondering, where is their Minister for Health and who is in charge?” he asked.
“People do not want to hear about these cuts from the HSE. This is Minister Reilly’s responsibility and he has a duty to explain what is going on so that people know what to expect.”
Sinn Féin health spokesperson Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin accused the government of putting “the diktats of the Troika before the old and the sick and people with disabilities in Irish society”.
“The further reduction in spending on the use of agency staff and on overtime will throw our public hospitals into ever deeper crisis,” the TD added. “The use of agency staff and of overtime have been made necessary by the continuing recruitment freeze and these further cuts will now see more hospital beds, wards and operating theatres closed across the country and longer waiting times and greater misery for patients.”
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Rest in peace
I used to go to the Harcourt Hotel on a Sunday night to see Paddy Cole perform and sometimes Ronan Collins would be there performing with him as well , those were the good auld days , RIP Paddy fantastic musician and singer as well
@Sean Fox: great musician but singing was NOT his forte. He once quoted a friend who claimed “he couldn’t sing and had the records to prove it”!!!
RIP Paddy. A fantastic musician and performer that I had the pleasure to see and meet with on occasion. A true gentleman on top who always had time for a chat after a show. Sad to hear of your passing. Rest in eternal peace
Rest in peace Paddy
Loved his radio show on a Sunday morning, he’ll be missed, RIP Paddy.
My Wife & I had our first date at the Harcourt Hotel where Paddy & his Jazzmen played.Never forgotten. R.I.P.
R.I.P Mr. Cole…loved your sunshine radio show every Sunday morning….hope they keep it going…your a legend….condolences to all his family…
RIP Paddy
O’Neill Tractors
RIP Paddy and thank you.
RIP Paddy.
Mister Happiness has departed! RIP!
Rest in peace. A truly wonderful musician and showman
A wonderful character, RIP Paddy
A real Star. Fab musician and his radio show was always entertaining. Rest in peace Paddy.
My first Harmonica came with an instruction booklet by Paddy Cole on how to play the thing with basic old timey tunes.
@Terry o donnell: are you sure that wasn’t Don Baker?
@Terry o donnell: that was Don Baker. Good book!
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