MEDICAL BOARD AGAINST CUTBACKS TO PORTIUNCULA FRONT LINE SERVICES
Date Published: 19-Jun-2009
The Medical Board at Portiuncula Hospital in Ballinasloe is concerned about patient care being compromised by planned cutbacks.It's understood that the National Hospital Office instructed management at the Ballinasloe Hospital that its budget for this year will be 3 million euro less than the expenditure for last year. ['08]The NHO suggests closing theatres and reducing beds in an effort to cut costs.However the Medical Board of Portiuncula Hospital says it will not support measures that compromise patient care.Chairman of the Board, Dr. Paraic Curran says the planned measures will negatively affect patient care.The Medical Board is recommending that a detailed patient risk assessment be carried out.Dr. Curran says the real risks of such measures need to be determined.