TWENTY surgical beds in Blanchardstown’s Connolly
Hospital are due to be closed in the coming weeks as part of budget cuts.
Northside People can reveal that the bed closures are
just one of the many cuts on the cards for the hospital over the coming months.
A spokesperson for the Health Service Executive (HSE)
revealed that seasonal closures of day and outpatient wards, as well as a
reduction in phlebotomy (blood) services to GPs, would also be required to
bring the hospital’s expenditure in line with requirements.
The HSE official confirmed that hospital management
have been meeting with senior staff to discuss
“ongoing plans to ensure the
hospital complies with its statutory obligations and remains within its
allocated yearly budget
?.
“Some of the key measures/actions that are required
over the coming months include seasonal closures in the surgical day ward and
outpatient services, phased closure of 20 surgical acute beds, rostering
reviews, reduction in phlebotomy services to GPs, measures to rationalise stock
levels, savings on contracts, energy savings and savings to be made when the
new MRI is installed,
? she told Northside People.
“Management wish to acknowledge the hard work and
commitment of all staff during these challenging times.
?
According to local TD Deputy Patrick Nulty (Lab), the
cuts will have a dramatic effect on both patients and staff.
“News of these cuts is a very serious and very
disappointing development,
? he stated.
“The hospital and the Health Service Executive (HSE)
cannot expect to be able to provide a good quality service to patients with
such financial restrictions.
?
He added:
“The staff are, as you can imagine, very
disappointed and frustrated with the situation but they carry on to do their
best for patients with the limited resources available to them.
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According to Deputy Nulty, the cuts, particularly the
closure of surgical beds, will cost the Government in the long-term.
“This will inevitably mean that people will be waiting
longer for treatment,
? he stated.
“It’s a false economy to impose budget restrictions
that cause the closure of surgical beds,
? he explained.
“Patients will need more hospital care if they are not
treated for their illnesses and injuries as early as possible.
“More than 2,000 beds in hospitals throughout the
country have already been closed so when will the Government see that the
system can’t cope with any more cuts to frontline health services?
?