Crumlin rows back on further cuts

Our Lady's Children's Hospital in Crumlin has decided to reverse some of the controversial cutbacks in patient services planned to meet the €9 million shortfall in its budget for this year.

Meanwhile, the HSE says it has set up a group to review the workload of the three Dublin children's hospitals in order to look at further savings that can be made from the hospitals working closer together.

The hospital has decided not to go ahead with the planned closure of further beds and another operating theatre during the summer months.

Crumlin has already closed 25 beds and one operating theatre, but in a surprise move yesterday, it pulled back on further cutbacks.

The move follows talks between the Department, HSE and hospital management.

The hospital has not been given additional funding, but has apparently managed to avoid further major closures as a result of other cost-saving measures it has made.

Crumlin does, however, plan to restrict outpatient appointments for non-emergency cases for three weeks between now and the end of the year.

The 25 beds and operating theatre closed last month will remain closed.

Crumlin Hospital, in a statement, said its decision to relent on further major cutbacks has been made in light of the existing pressure on services and the potential impact on children and families of additional closures.

It said the continuation of the closures implemented last month, in addition to some further outpatient restrictions "will in turn mean that there will be longer waiting times for some children in relation to clinical assessment and waiting times for non-emergency surgery."

The hospital said there had been no change to its funding allocation, but did not explain how if found the money to avoid further bed and theatre closures.

Crumlin stressed that all emergencies will be cared for and it will do everything it can to protect the sickest patients.

The Crumlin cutbacks and their effects on seriously-ill children have led to much political and media controversy in recent weeks.

Healh Minister Mary Harney and the HSE have faced severe criticism over the cutbacks in recent weeks.

However, the Minister has said that Crumlin hospital’s budget has increased by 39% over the past five years and recently claimed that its budgetary challenges were largely due to the fact that it employs more than 100 staff in excess of its fixed employment ceiling.

The Minister has stressed that the planned merger of the three children's hospitals in Dublin could save a minimum of €20 million per year on administration alone and that there is much duplication of paediatric services in Dublin at the moment.

A single consultant clinical director is to be appointed soon to oversee medical services at the three hospitals.

Members of the Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children are due to visit Crumlin Hospital today.

In addition, Fine Gael has tabled a Dail private members motion on the Crumlin cuts which is to be debated tonight.

The HSE has welcomed the hospital's decision to relent on further cuts.

It stressed that "while there will be many competing priorities in the current diffcult financial environment, hospitals will need to work within their allocated budgets."

The HSE said the review group it has set up will look at maximising the volume of services that can be provided by the three children's hospitals with the funding available.

"It will also review the working arrangements between the three hositals in preparation for the transition to tne new children's hosiutla at the Mater in 2014.

The HSE said further savings can be made and used for frontline services by a closer working relationship between the three hospitals.

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[Posted: Tue 23/06/2009]