Drumm expects huge challenges in 2009
Thursday, 27 November 2008 16:31The Minister for Health and the Chief Executive of the HSE have both acknowledged that 2009 will be a challenging year for the health service.
Mary Harney and Professor Brendan Drumm were speaking today before an Oireachtas committee.
In their submission to the committee, they said in order to deliver the level of services it is committing to, the HSE will be 'reconfiguring' many front line services.
Prof Drumm said changes in the health service will introduced gradually over the next two to three years and that there will no 'big bang'.
Prof Drumm also said maintaining this year's service levels will be a huge challenge and that the HSE will have to further reduce costs.
The submission also stated that a key concern for the HSE is that more people on the Live Register in the current economic environment could increase the pressure on services beyond the targets set in its finanacial allocation.
Meanwhile, Minister Harney has said she hopes to introduce the cervical cancer screening programme for girls in 2010.
Ms Harney, said the programme can not be rolled out one year without having the money available for the project in subsequent years.
