It has emerged that cutbacks for healthcare in the Mid West come on the back of disproportionately high reductions in funding for the region in recent years.
Figures seen by Clare FM show that 2,709 euro per person was spent on healthcare in the Mid West last year – this is over 120 euro less than the national average and 630 euro lower than what is spent on patients in the North West.
Meanwhile, over the last five years, the Mid West’s proportion of funding from the overall HSE West budget has dropped by almost six per cent, equating to an annual figure of 38.5 million euro.
In the same time frame, spending at Limerick Regional fell by 7.2 per cent relative to University Hospital Galway, or a yearly shortfall of 17.5 million euro.
It comes as nursing union officials are set to meet with HSE management today to discuss cutbacks in the Mid West in an effort to curb overspending with 25 bed closures already announced at Dooradoyle.
Ennis Councillor and Member of the Health Forum West Brian Meaney believes the cutbacks here are disproportionate and is calling on the county’s Oireachtas representatives to fight for health services in the region.
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