HEALTH MINISTER'S PLANS MAY IMPACT ON GALWAY'S PUBLIC HOSPITALS

Date Published: 29-Jul-2011

The Health Minister has announced plans to cut the budgets of hospitals which fail to clear waiting lists for patients in need of treatment longer than 12 months.James Reilly is also blaming hospital managers for the surge in patients on A and E trollies during the winter months.

He says the surge is not down to increased sickness - but rather to badly organised staffing arrangements over the holiday period.

Figures released in April revealed there were almost 35 thousand people on outpatient waiting lists at University Hospital Galway and Merlin Park.

Speaking in Donegal last evening, the Minister says hospitals with long waiting lists will have their patients transferred elsewhere - and their budgets cut