Childrens' Hospital Lose 100 Staff

The Irish Republic's number one childrens' hospital has announced it is to shed 100 staff to cope with budget restrictions imposed by the Health Service Executive (HSE).

Our Lady’s Hospital for Sick Children in Crumlin is the national centre for children under cancer treatment and cardiac surgery.

However, health workers' union Impact has confirmed the hospital is to cut 100 temporary and agency staff positions in order to cope with the €14 million stripped from its budget by the HSE.

The hospital has failed to reveal exact details, but Chief Executive of the hospital, Lorcan Birthistle, indicated that the hospital will make "significant reductions in agency and temporary staff numbers" in order to achieve savings.

Impact official Eamonn Donnelly said: "We received word about these job cuts this morning, which we understand to be in excess of 100. It is clear that the hospital is being penalised for providing services.

"In 2007, the hospital received €10m less in funding from the HSE than it actually spent – money spent as a direct result of trying to meet the needs of children referred to the hospital.

"This year, the hospital has had to agree in advance that €7m of savings will be achieved, despite their projected expenditure," he said.

He added: "It is significant that these jobs are being done by temporary and agency staff. The restrictions on recruitment have led to an over-reliance on temporary and agency staff despite the increase in demand for services."

News of the job cuts at Our Lady's came as 28,000 Impact members in the HSE and HSE-funded organisations are refusing to cover posts left vacant by the HSE recruitment freeze.

(DW)