There are huge fears this evening for many medical services across Co Donegal following the news that the HSE West budget has encountered a huge over-run.
Country-wide the budget has gone over by €50 million for the first half of the year while in Donegal that overspend is understood to be in the region of over €7 million.
If the spending trend continues, there are genuine fears that services at all levels will have to be cut to stop the overspend from continuing.
This could mean the closure of beds and surgery in centres across Donegal.
A meeting in Galway of all departmental heads was told the overspend has gone into dangerous territory.
Union spokesman Richie Carruthers said management including those at Letterkenny General Hospital are swimming against the tide.
“We need talks because there is no way that we can continue like this. Something needs to be done and people need to be honest about where we are.
“Of course we are talking about the cancellation of surgery and this is being done already.
“There is no way we can continue like this and if cutbacks are introduced to try and stop this overspend trend then it will spell disaster for patients,” he said.
Today’s news will not come as a surprise to donegaldaily.com readers. We reported a €6M overspend in July here https://www.donegaldaily.com/2011/07/29/letterkenny-general-to-lose-24-hour-ae-in-cutbacks/
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