A leading Hospital Consultant in the Mid-West has rubbished claims that political lobbying was the reason extra funding has been sanctioned for hospitals in Limerick and Clare.
The HSE is allocating a budget increase of 24.6 euro million for the Mid-West hospital group for 2013 – representing a funding top up of 11.5% for the group including Limerick Regional, Ennis General and the local Maternity Hospital.
With budgets for some hospitals cut, questions have been raised by members of the opposition as to whether political lobbying lead to extra funding for hospitals in the constituencies of the Taoiseach and Finance Minister.
But Consultant Obstetrician at the Mid-West Maternity Hospital, Gerry Burke told Clare FM’s Morning Focus that’s not the case, as the extra money was badly needed following promises made during the reconfiguration process.
