Mayo patients 'should not have to pay the price for HSE overspending'

An elected member of Mayo County Council has expressed concern over the government’s decision to take away some of the day-to-day spending powers from four HSE regions, including HSE West and North West, because of overspending.

This means more control over spending will now be taken away from regional management, stated Councillor Harry Barrett.

He elaborated: "The government also needs to look at why spending is increasing in the west despite a loss of services.

"Mayo’s population is growing and we have an increasing number of older people who need hospital care, home support and community services.

"That growing demand has to be properly recognised when budgets are being set.

"We also have a serious shortage of GPs, particularly outside normal hours.

"When people cannot get a GP, they end up in the emergency department. That means more pressure on Mayo University Hospital, more admissions and longer stays.

"We were told the new HSE regions would bring decisions closer to patients. Taking spending powers away from the regions is a step backwards.

"The government must deal with the reasons our health service is under pressure, rather than simply blaming the region for spending too much."