Financial mis-management 'costing HSE millions' - study

A government-commissioned audit has reportedly found that the HSE is wasting more than €20m a year through bad financial management.

Reports this morning say the study found that millions of euro is being lost because the health service's bank accounts are not earning interest, while the HSE is paying out around €2m a year in bank charges.

http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/mhqlcwojkfey/

Hospital bed record 'a sick joke'

A CLAIM that only 10 extra beds have been provided in acute hospitals between 2005 and 2007 was made yesterday by the Fine Gael health spokesman, Dr James Reilly TD.

Describing the record of Minister for Health, Mary Harney, as "a sick joke" he said official figures showed that the number of inpatient beds had only increased from 12,093 in 2005 to 12,103 last year.

"This is what the Minister has to show after three full years and a €40 billion spend - three inpatient beds a year," said Dr Reilly.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2008/0805/1217628552394.html

2,700 jobs cut due to HSE recruitment freeze

Almost 2,700 jobs have reportedly been cut from the health service as a result of the HSE's controversial recruitment freeze.
Reports this morning say figures supplied to the HSE show that just over 110,000 people were employed in the health service in March.
This compares to almost 113,000 last August, just before the recruitment freeze was put in place in an effort to rein in a €200m budget overrun.
Health unions say the cutbacks are already having a significant impact on services and patient care.

http://www.independent.ie/breaking-news/national-news/2700-jobs-cut-due-to-hse-recruitment-freeze-1373000.html