Video:HSE Decision to postpone Cystic Fibrosis unit at St Vincent's Hospital Dublin must be reversed immediately

Video requires RealPlayer-Download here

Embedded from RTE.IE

The promise by the Health Service Executive that a new building with state of the art accommodation for cystic fibrosis (CF) patients would be provided at Dublin’s St Vincent’s hospital by 2010 will not be fulfilled.
The HSE has confirmed that funding for constructing the building, which would have about 30 single rooms for CF patients, will not be available “until 2011 at the earliest".

According to FG health Spokesman Dr James Reilly TD

"The lack of appropriate cystic fibrosis beds exposes patients to cross-infection and shortens their lives which are already tragically brief. It is absolutely indefensible that we are still forcing these patients into overcrowded wards that place them literally in mortal danger. I am disgusted by the confirmation today that the promised new 30-bed unit at St Vincent's Hospital has been postponed. Not only that but only eight of 14 single rooms promised as an interim solution while this block was being built have not been delivered.

"We heard on the Liveline programme today how some of the CF patients who contributed to that programme last year have passed away in recent times. By its actions the Government is effectively condemning others to the same fate. Ireland has the highest rate of CF in the world and the strongest mutation of the disease so we need isolated single hospital beds for treatment more than anywhere else in the world. Because we don't have these facilities Irish patients die 10 years earlier than their counterparts in Northern Ireland.

This heartless decision shames Ireland and its people. Undoubtedly the country's public finances are in dire straits and Ministers are strapped for cash. However cutbacks can be made in the machinery of government itself and the resultant savings diverted into this project. The number of Ministers for State could be reduced to 12. Many of the Dail committees could be abolished. TDs expenses could be reduced. Sitting TDs should not draw Ministerial Pensions. Funds could be diverted from the national lottery to this project. Higher paid executives at the HSE could take pay cuts.

The postponement is a death sentence for many cystic fibrosis patients. It is unworthy of a so- called civilized country. Minister for Health Mary Harney must intervene immediately and ensure a continuation of the project. Otherwise the judgement of history will be harsh.

Irish Government plans €440 million in public expenditure cuts

Today Finance Minister Brian Lenihan announced plans to cut public expenditure by €440 million.
Effectively decentralisation appears to have been shelved. Manning levels in the HSE are to be reduced. All Departments, State Agencies and Local Authorities - other than Health and Education - will be required to reduce their payroll bill by 3% by the end of 2009. But is Education really excluded? FG spokesman on Education Brian Hayes has issued the following statement "...Brian Lenihan said that the Department of Education would be excepted from reducing its payroll bill by 3% but in his very next sentence he said that 'the parameters for this exception are to be agreed by the Departments concerned with the Department of Finance.' This means that Education is not exempted at all from payroll cutbacks and has to negotiate with regard to what cuts it faces...." This caveat applies also to Health.

I suspect that the Government is angling for a public sector pay pause in 2009. The Minister expects a shortfall of €3bn in tax revenue this year. To say the least this is in my view highly conservative. I suspect it may be €4 billion at least. An interesting question arises. What will fund manpower reductions in the public service? Many of those made redundant will be entitled to state benefits.
So the Government will gain with one hand and lose with the other. In addition there is potential for serious conflict in the Health sector. Frontline services in the Health sector will inevitably suffer from cut backs.

Much of what is announced today is aspirational and the details remain to be fleshed out. At last the FF/PD/Green Government appears to accept that we have a crisis. Prior to this critics were accused of talking down the economy. Interest in the next few weeks and months will focus on the actual details of the cuts. As usual the devil will be in the detail. Much of this could have been avoided by prudent action in the last two budgets.

Key points of Minister's Speech:

'The Exchequer returns published by my Department last week confirm we are facing a shortfall of €3bn in tax revenue this year.
'Government expenditure is running at 11% ahead of the same period for last year. And there are a number of spending pressures due mainly to higher unemployment.
Accordingly the Government has decided that all of the pending increases for Ministerial and Parliamentary office-holders and for other senior public servants, recommended by the Review Body on Higher Remuneration in the Public Sector will not be implemented.
'The issue will be reviewed in September 2010 but without commitment at this stage to the outcome.
'To meet current expenditure pressures, the following measures will be taken:

* All Departments, State Agencies and Local Authorities - other than Health and Education - will be required to reduce their payroll bill by 3% by the end of 2009 through all appropriate measures identified by local management in the light of local circumstances. The parameters of this exception for the health and education sector are to be agreed by the Departments concerned with the Department of Finance.

* All expenditure by Departments and Agencies on Consultancies, Advertising and Public Relations will be significantly reduced for the remainder of this year and by at least 50% in 2009.

* Further savings in 2008 and in 2009 are to be secured by a range of measures including those identified as a result of the Budget day efficiency review initiated by my predecessor.

* All of the above efficiencies will apply equally to State Agencies. In addition, I have asked that these agencies be reviewed to examine whether they can share services, whether it would be appropriate to absorb some of their functions back into their parent Departments or whether some agencies should be amalgamated or abolished. The outcome of this will be considered by the Government in the Autumn.

* Capital investment will remain a top priority. Capital projects will be examined and prioritised to ensure that resources are targeted in the first instance at construction-related investment in core economic infrastructure that adds to productive capacity.


* The Government has also decided, in the light of the current Exchequer position, that further expenditure for the acquisition of accommodation for decentralisation will await detailed consideration of reports from the Decentralisation Implementation Group.


* Minister of State Martin Mansergh will head up a joint public procurement operation between OPW and the Department of Finance to drive a programme of reform and to produce a business plan for purchasing savings to be achieved by Departments and other public bodies in 2009. Minister Mansergh will report to me in the Autumn with specific proposals to target at least €50m savings in 2009 on this front.


* Given the projected revision to GNP and other factors, there will be savings in Overseas Development Assistance of some €45 million this year. The revised total contribution in 2008 will be over €200 per citizen, totalling around €900 million. Ireland will still be far ahead of almost all other developed nations in our rate of ODA.

'In addition to these measures, the Department of Finance and the Department of Health and Children will draw up proposals for a targeted scheme to reduce surplus staff in the HSE as soon as possible. We will also consider extending this scheme on a selected basis to other public service agencies where staff surpluses are identified.
'In respect of the Tribunals of Enquiry given that they have indicated their intention to conclude their public hearings this year, the costs of their operations will be reviewed by the relevant Ministers as part of the overall review of spending so that expenditure is minimized, both in the remainder of 2008 and residual costs arising in 2009.
'The Government is determined to achieve the savings required. All Departments have been directed to stay within budget.
'These measures are designed to minimise the effects on users of services in the areas of Health, Education and Social Welfare. They seek to protect the vulnerable. But they are the minimum we need to get back on track as soon as possible.
'The savings are estimated to deliver €440m in 2008 and €1,000m in 2009. Even with these savings, the fiscal position in 2009 will be demanding and all spending will have to be rigorously controlled. In framing the 2009 Budget the Government is determined to maintain the right economic and fiscal conditions for sustainable growth.

Ireland- Taoiseach Brian Cowen losing out in Dail exchanges

There is increasing evidence in Dail exchanges that Brian Cowen is prepared to adopt a more aggressive approach to the opposition than Bertie Ahern. Former Socialist Party TD Joe Higgins said in 2003 that "asking the (former) Taoiseach Mr Ahern a question is like trying to play handball against a haystack. You hear a dull thud and the ball does not come back to you. It goes all over the world, but it certainly does not come back to the person asking the question". In marked contrast Cowen is more combative.

Prior to assuming the mantle of Taoiseach Cowen had been quite dismissive towards Kenny. In a Dail exchange in February Mr Cowen-then Tanaiste- attempted to belittle Kenny on the issue of Mr Ahern's finances and the Mahon Tribunal when he said "You are neither qualified nor able to evaluate that evidence”. This may yet come back to haunt him. The personalised nature of the comment has energised Kenny.

Political journalists assumed that Cowen as Taoiseach would destroy Kenny in exchanges. This is not what has transpired.
In the Dail yesterday (Tuesday) Enda Kenny raised the HSE announcement last week that it was contacting more than 4,500 patients whose x-rays and CT scans at Our Lady`s Hospital, Navan, and Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, might have been misread. Cowen injudiciously attacked Kenny and alleged that he was attempting to make political capital out of the issue. He came off second best in the exchanges.

Today in the Dail a row erupted when Mr Kenny questioned the Taoiseach about health expenditure.
In reply Cowen claimed that Fine Gael had not backed a single initiative aimed at improving health services. This comment drew howls of disapproval from the FG front bench.
Mr Cowen told the Fine Gael spokesman on Health, Dr James Reilly, that if the heckling continued, he could ensure that Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny would not be heard in the chamber again.
This was a bad lapse in judgement.

Mr Cowen was then tackled by Labour leader Eamon Gilmore on price increases and on the alleged failure of the National Consumer Agency and other bodies to act.
The Dail microphones picked up a comment made by the Taoiseach to Tanaiste Mary Coughlan : 'We need to get a handle on this, will you ring those f***ers.'
The use of the F-word although not used in the Dail exchanges was a further embarrassment for the Taoiseach.
All in all a bad week for the Government and for Mr Cowen.

Eoghan Harris-an FF/PD apologist

Eoghan Harris is no mean exponent of the pen. Unfortunately his political analysis leaves much to be desired. In his Sunday Independent column he is prepared to defend the indefensible if necessary as he strives to promote the Governments record on Health. He is rapidly developing into a political apologist for the FF/PD Government. Come back Pravda. All is forgiven.

In the Irish context he states that Mary Hanafin, Beverly Flynn and Mary Harney are courageous politicians. Interestingly all three are from the FF gene pool. He mentions Hillary Clinton. Obviously Harris knows very little about "Hillarycare." In the words of Mitt Romney: "She hasn't run a corner store. She hasn't run a state. She hasn't run a city. She has never run anything."

He then denigrates Dr James Reilly (FG). He conveniently omits to state that FG health spokesman, Dr James Reilly put down the question -at the Oireachtas Health Committee meeting- which elicited the response that 97 women who had breast ultrasounds at Portlaoise Hospital were to be recalled for surgical review. Harris should listen to James Reilly. He might actually learn something about the reality of life for women suffering from breast cancer.

He raises the issue of bi-partisanship on the health issue. The Government has a 13 seat majority(including Ned O Keeffe). Is this not sufficient to reform the Health Service? No Harris is concerned to protect the Government from flak ensuing from unpopular decisions in the Health Service. The Harris motto is: Tie in the opposition parties and insulate the Government.

There is now a strong opposition. It is the duty of the opposition to ask the hard questions. This is a sine qua non if our democracy is to flourish.

The last FF /PD Government -with Mary Harney as Minister for Health-established the HSE. It is a bureaucratic monster that is gobbling up valuable financial resources but cutting back on front line services. In the words of Harris : " Harney is fighting the good fight". Unfortunately this is of little benefit to seriously ill patients. Eoghan Harris needs to wake up and smell the coffee.

RTE Radio News Headlines-ommission of Olwyn Enright's contribution to Saturdayview

Today Saturdayview featured Olwyn Enright (FG), Jan O Sullivan (Lab) and Martin Cullen (FF). There was a very passionate discussion -expertly stewarded by Rodney Rice-on the breast cancer debacle at Portlaoise hospital and on the HSE in general. The role of Mary Harney featured also.

I was impressed with the contribution of both Olwyn Enright and Jan O Sullivan . They clearly articulated women's fears. As women they understand the terror of breast cancer. Martin Cullen spoke about restructuring the HSE. The contribution of Olwyn Enright was in my view her finest ever on either radio or tv.

Interestingly the news headlines -which followed the show -gave sizeable coverage of Martin Cullen's comments. There was a brief reference to Jan O Sullivan's contribution. No reference was made to views expressed by Olwyn Enright who represented FG the second largest party in the Republic of Ireland. Why?

Ireland-Dr James Reilly (FG) exposes major deficiencies in cancer detection at Portlaoise Hospital

FG health spokesman, Dr James Reilly, called for Mary Harney’s resignation following the revelation today that 97 women who had breast ultrasounds at Portlaoise Hospital are to be recalled for surgical review.
This devastating news was revealed on foot of a question he put at the Oireachtas Health Committee rather than through direct contact from the HSE. RTE television News in its report failed to credit Dr Reilly with this question.

Dr Reilly stated "These reviews of ultrasounds were taking place at the same time as the review of mammograms. This means that the HSE has had three months to inform women of this need for a surgical review as it emerged, but failed to do so."
.
He said that while 97 women had so far been recalled, and claimed that with 177 clinical cases still to be reviewed, the probability is that more women would be recalled for review.
Dr Reilly said that more women might have been given false all clears, in addition to the nine already identified as having been misdiagnosed following the review of mammograms at the hospital.
"The Minister was alerted to the problems in this area two-and-a-half years ago and failed to take control of the problem and simply passed the buck."

Dr Reilly is one of the star performers in the Dail.He is highly talented,articulate, forceful and well briefed.

Ireland-Health Service Executive is a bureaucracy which must be reformed

During Dáil Questions today (Wednesday), the Minister for Health admitted that the number of Grade Eight Middle Managers in the health service had grown by 37% and said she hoped there was scope for voluntary redundancies, according to Fine Gael Health Spokesperson, Dr James Reilly TD. Dr Reilly highlighted the plight of patients awaiting admission to the National Rehabilitation Hospital which cannot now discharge patients because of the health cutbacks.



Interesting to note the use of the word hope by the Minister. The Minister has expressed no concern for frontline staff laid off. No talk of voluntary redundancies for them. No concern for the patients. What are her proposals to halt this madness?



As Minister for Health, Mary Harney must take hard decisions to reduce administrative costs of the HSE. The HSE bureaucratic monster was established by the last FF/PD government to streamline the health service. It could shelter the FF/PD politicians from the backlash which would inevitably occur when hospital closures and cutbacks occurred. Whilst front line services are being cut in places such as Sligo,top executives may get bonuses of around €20,000. The number of Grade Eight Middle Managers has grown by 37% . Can she justify this? Of course not.

The Health Minister is unwilling to admit that patients will be affected by Government-sanctioned health cutbacks. With the onset of Winter the crisis is likely to escalate.

Ireland- Eamon OCuiv breaks with Government policy as HSE lurches from crisis to crisis

Speaking on Newstalk Government Minister Eamon O Cuiv has described the Health Service Executive as an "impossible organisation to deal with".
Yesterday the Taoiseach said it must control its overspending.
The HSE is over budget by more than 200 million euro already this year and is now admitting that its recruitment freeze has led to a number of procedures being cancelled, despite assurances that the move would not affect patient services.

Eamon O Cuiv was a member of the FF/PD Government which set up the HSE. At its launch we were promised a streamlined and efficient health service- fit for the 21st century. The HSE has developed into a bureaucratic monster gobbling up tax payers money. Pressure is increasing on front line staff such as doctors and nurses as administration eats up available funds. Waiting lists are stubbornly high.
The HSE is an unmitigated disaster. It was established to shield the Government from unpalatable decisions such as the closing and down grading of hospitals. When hospitals are downgraded FF TDs blame the HSE. The HSE is an agent of the state and is implementing FF/PD/Green party policy on health by stealth. Eamon OCuiv wishes to have his cake and eat it. If he disagrees fundamentally from Government policy he should resign from the cabinet. Is he suggesting that the Health Boards should be re-established?
The Health Boards had defects but they served as a useful vehicle for the articulation of local concerns on health. They have been replaced by an even bigger bureaucratic monster.
Richard Bruton TD of Fine Gael is correct when he compares the HSE to bureaucracies prevalent in Marxist countries.

Ireland-Government cut-backs begin to bite

A Winter of discontent is looming in the Irish health service.


Delegates at the Irish Nurses' Organisation (INO) annual conference have passed an emergency motion condemning a ban on recruitment introduced by the Health Service Executive (HSE) earlier this month.
The emergency motion put to delegates in Killarney was in response to cutbacks introduced by the HSE on September 4th in an attempt to reduce a €245 million financial deficit.

Fine Gael Health Spokesman James Reilly TD has condemned the extensive front line job cuts at Sligo General Hospital saying that it was clear that patient care would be adversely affected.
"Cutbacks have been the order of the day since Fianna Fail and the PDs were returned to Government with hospitals in Ennis, South Tipperary, the Midlands and now Sligo particularly hard hit.
"The jobs cut today include 30 nurses and four consultants so once again we are seeing cutbacks hitting front line staff while the bloated bureaucracy within the health service remains untouched."

According to FG TD Joe McHugh:
Fianna Fáil has slashed funding for community childcare groups also. "Under the previous EU-funded programme, all working parents were entitled to funding towards their childcare expenses. But the Fianna Fáil Government has withdrawn this incentive for mothers to enter the world of work. The Government's new scheme penalises working mothers, as only those in receipt of social welfare or family income supplement are entitled to funding. If anything Fianna Fáil, is now encouraging them to go on social welfare."

Funding for rural roads has also been cut. Promises of funding for rural roads undoubtedly contributed to the election of many FF rural TDs. No sooner was the election over than the promise was binned. There is silence from these TDs.

So its hairshirt time once more for an electorate that has given FF a new mandate. On this occasion FF TDs are unlikely to rock the boat. We will have the ritual expressions of concern about cut backs from FF backbenchers. This type of posturing has traditionally served them well when they act simultaneously as Government and Opposition. Vote in the Dail for cutbacks and oppose them locally in the constituencies.

Prior to the election public expenditure escalated out of control as the Government sought a new mandate. It was party time. Now the hangover has set in. The Irish economy resembles a drug addict waiting for the next fix. Unfortunately it is a time for cold turkey .