The Department of Health has outlined drastic cutbacks that would have to be made if it’s forced to meet savings targets.
In a confidential document prepared for the government, it also warns some of the moves, including bed closures, and cutbacks in surgery numbers, could pose a risk to patient safety.
All government departments have been told to come up with options that would ensure they can make required savings.
In its submission, the Department of Health says 213 million euro would have to be cut from spending next year to meet the target.
To do that, it says 290 inpatient beds in 17 hospitals would have to be closed, and high-cost procedures would have to be reduced.
That would mean 2 thousand 4 hundred fewer operations, particularly in the orthopaedic area.
On top of those, some emergency departments would have to cut their opening hours and a number of new charges would be introduced.
According to the Irish Times, the Department's warning these 'draconian' measures are not achievable and would 'seriously compromise patient safety'.
