A spokesperson for Health Minister James Reilly has confirmed that the language of the HSE Service Plan was changed after Cabinet approved extra funding for the Department of Health.
It was revealed this weekend that the head of the HSE warned James Reilly that Budget cuts were being made “against the advice of the HSE and the Department of Health”.
A family faced having to pay for their daughter’s oxygen tanks and feeding tubes after the HSE granted them a GP visit card instead of a full medical card.
Health Minister James Reilly has been under increasing pressure since confirmation last Tuesday that a further €666 million is to be taken out of the Health Budget in 2014.
Fianna Fáil’s decision to table a motion of no confidence in Health Minister James Reilly tonight drew criticism from the government benches during a heated debate.
The Minister for Health has instructed the HSE to ‘continue to provide services to people in receipt of personal assistant services’ but protesters outside government buildings could continue through the night.
The Minister has come in for considerable criticism and scrutiny in recent days but why is he under pressure and what’s likely to happen in the coming weeks and months?
The Hall Family have made a direct appeal to the Minister for Health to reverse cuts. Meanwhile, a protest is due to take place outside Government buildings today over disability cuts.
Demonstrators say the facility is seriously under resourced. Meanwhile a protest about Roscommon County Hospital is planned for Leinster House for Wednesday.
Harney says €200m will be saved a year through the cuts, but unions are concerned the HSE does not have a plan to cope with cutting 5,000 jobs by Christmas.
