We need your help now
Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.
You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.
If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.
Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
By continuing, you are indicating that you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
JAMES REILLY HAS said that while frontline services will be hit by health service budget cuts, the effects will be “mitigated”.
The Health Minister was speaking following the announcement of the Health Service Executive’s (HSE) National Service Plan yesterday. With €750 million cut from the health budget there will be as many as 555 nursing home beds closed and 3,200 people leaving the health service in Ireland.
Reilly admitted that frontline services would be impacted upon but insisted that in rejecting the first proposed National Service Plan before Christmas, he had “been able to mitigate that in a major way”.
“I’ve said all along that frontline services are going to be affected but we’re going to mitigate that as much as possible,” he told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland.
I mean I was accused in the past of shouting wolf and what I managed to do is knock a few teeth out of that wolf’s mouth but he’s still going to bite and it’s going to be sore.
Reilly insisted that despite budget cuts, screening for colon cancer has been delayed by only a few months whereas originally it would have been delayed by a year under the initial plan. “I insisted upon that,” he said of the change.
The Health Minister said he envisioned use of intermediate care facilities and that as a result more elderly people would be looked after at home. The Service Plan included a cut of 555 public nursing home beds.
Of the plans to shed 3,200 people from the health by the end of February he said there was “enough flexibility in the moratorium to move people” to ensure there was no shortage in one particular sector of the health service.
He admitted there would be an impact from the budget cuts but said the government and his department had no choice: “There is going to be an impact, this country is bankrupt.
Were in terrible trouble, health is second biggest spending department and we have to take a certain amount of responsibility in relation addressing that deficit.
Reilly also addressed the issue of the government having to inform the European Commission that it was not in a position to comply with rules requiring junior doctors to work no more than an average of 48 hours per week.
RTÉ reported that the government had told the EC it was not in position to comply with regulations for three more years. Junior doctors can in some instances work as many as 60 hours a week in the current circumstances.
“This is historical, there’s no question. You know that last year we had tremendous difficulty recruiting staff,” Reilly said. But he said that the government was facing “a myriad of problems” in the health service and this was “but one of them” that he was “very conscious of”.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Sweet Jesus do these people never get tired of telling us how much trouble we are in…we are taking our medicine so how about a spoonful of sugar now & then…!
We’re not taking our medicine as can’t afford medicine anymore
And sugar is a luxury so that’s gone from the budget
We might be able to get some free cheese though.
At least this time he has admitted that frontline services will be affected.
But I bet the members of fine Gael have their own private hospital on tap-and all the luxury they can muster-up as well at our expense!!..we get the crumbs..
Blackrock Clinic ?
I think the government should come out and announce that everyone should stop worrying, our political elite will be looked after if they get sick or need our frontline service, the worry i see on people’s faces old and young “what happens if Enda or Leo get sick will they be looked after?”
Here is an idea “James Reilly” CUT YOUR OWN FUCKING WAGES and those of your CRONIES you USELESS THUG!!
100% right
“Myriad of problems”
“Enough flexibility in the moratorium to move people”
“Mitigated”
They come up with nice fancy words to tell us that that the health service yet again is going to be stripped down at ground level.
I’m sure that will be of comfort to those suffering by the hour!
James Reilly should hang his head in shame!
If he had any shame he would tell his bosses where to go
Why is it that Enda Kenny could not say “There is going to be an impact, this country is bankrupt.” last year when he gave his State Of The Nation address…It is probably the MOST honest comment any politician has made in the past year . I find it some what consoling to hear this comment insofar as it confirms my sanity and states what we already know…..
However it does not take away from the fact that It is frontline staff and people on the coalface , both staff and patients are left to suffer the cuts. How many administrators / managers jobs are being cut ?
”The Health Minister said he envisioned use of intermediate care facilities and that as a result more elderly people would be looked after at home.”
So Minister WHAT if anything are you going to do to support the carers in these situations ??
”Reilly also addressed the issue of the government having to inform the European Commission that it was not in a position to comply with rules requiring junior doctors to work no more than an average of 48 hours per week.”
I am glad junior doctors hours of work is being restricted BUT only on the say so of Europe !! J C Why could they not do this off their own bat over the years ………
Devestated ! You are a Wolf ?? I don’t know if that is all I would call you ………..
I misread the comment on Jr Doctors hours … Scrap my reply altho I think 60 hrs a week for jr doctors is horrendous . More coffee me thinks!!!:) :)
this country is bankrupt.!!!! At last someone in his position has used these words .
Useless excuses!
A woman was killed yesterday in Drogheda – traffic accident – and she had to wait half an hour before an ambulance even came!
Now IN Scarlet street where the accident was, there IS a hospital with ambulances kept at the back of it and that hospital (The Cottage Hospital) you could actually see from the scene of the accident.
Add to that another hospital – the biggest in Louth with a brand new casualty section – The Lourdes Hospital was a mere 5 minutes away too – did they send out an ambulance – NO – because of the ALREADY cuts to vital services, a woman was left on the road for 30 minutes until she died because the only ambulance there was, had to come from a place called Navan!
The last thing to be cut is such services – but then they are cutting and cutting and cutting – and the price is in lives too!
Its bloody disgusting!
That is DISGRACEFUL …. That poor woman and her family!!!
Every day brings bad news about the eu,the currency(euro) cutbacks everywhere-then the arrogant tossers at the top swanning around and lining their pockets and sneering at the rest of us-Sean Quinn playing the poor mouth for reckless gambling and on it goes-is anybody accountable for anything in this country?
WE are accountable
shane the answer is NO
How the hell are these politicians still the highest paid twats in Europe!!!!!!!…….it’s absolutely mental that everybody suffers while these bastards sit in their mansions and are not affected one bit!!!!!!!………cut this,cut that………CUT YOUR OWN F#*KIN WAGES!!!!!!!
I agree 100%
@phil-I’m not accountable for racking up debt in this country-I play by the rules like the majority of decent folk in this country-I’ve never owed a red cent to the country in terms of where we’re at in Ireland..so I take personal exception that I owe this state a fortune..I lived in the uk for 23yrs and returned in 2008 when this mess commenced..so I will continue to speak out until those responsible pay their dues!!..
I hope you will not register or pay for the household tax Shane. I have never owed a penny either but on this occasion I am refusing to register or pay . I am terrified that I may be fined etc … BUT I have had enough and I am making a stand .
Well put Shane
These cuts just prove that the value of a life is measured against monetary savings…….Our Health system at the moment is third class, so what in Gods’ name is it going to be like when these draconian cuts take place?
How many more lives will be put at risk?
Yes Minister, the Country is Bankrupt, but we the ordinary people didn’t cause that to happen…..However, as with every other money saving excercise, we will have to pay for that, while those that caused it continue to prosper!
So much for the fair society that this Government promised!
The alternative is to pay more tax. We only need €750 million to maintain the HSE budget at last year’s level. Anyone up for it?
That comment is not in the slightest bit amusing, how do you propose us young manage to buy houses or even get married and start families, you clearlyl have no mortgage or the likes and can well afford these extra taxes, well how about thinking of the young of this country for once we WANT TO WORK we WANT TO CONTRIBUTE we WANT TO OWN OUR HOUSES we WANT TO GET BY!
The alternative is to burn the bondholders.
We already pay too much tax and get too little in return. A bit of RESPECT for us from our so called leaders would be nice
How very presumptuous. Biiiig mortgage. Not married. 2 kids, one in college. Liable for household charge, water charges, septic tank fee. Pay tax at 41%. Can afford to pay more tax if it will help protect people less fortunate. And this really is me. No anonymity. No spoof names. Champagne socialist, I guess…
€50 euro to say hello to your doctor!!..I don’t think so..the health like orther main basic stuff should have been in place in the good times-but greed and the rest of took over-now were almost bankrupt(apart from the wealthy) and stuck with countless ghost estates,which is criminal,homeless still on the streets and we are sending our large educated ppl to orther countries(emigration) and young chaps to further countries to build houses in places like Africa through fund raising and charities!!..what a joke..
Nanny state fail?
Hey, government has also started handing out free Ferraris for everyone, the only problem is – they are currently out of them but other than that it’s great news :-)
This is A Disgrace” treating people in Ireland as Thirdy party Class rate, and James O reilly is a waste of space, for a so call Doctor he hasnt a bloody clue in how to run a health service, never mind his over weight problem, he does this to get media attention, and he is attention seeker who likes to be in front of camera media most of the time, i hate the old fart, its going to be major and alot of people could die because of this Minister, and Enda kenny and other who have agreed on oreillys game playing with peoples lifes. i would sue him if i was refused treatment. sue them all for negligence .
Rita Cahill
have your say