SIPTU's chief health negotiator has predicted that the HSE's budget will be cut by 3% in real terms in 2008, and that patients will suffer as a result.
Addressing his union's conference in Tralee, National Industrial Secretary Matt Merrigan warned that if any attempt was made to take away the hard won rights of members, the union will engage in a full-scale campaign of opposition up to and including industrial action.
He warned that the public needed a wake-up call and that if they did not stand up and defend the health service there would be further attacks made on it.
This would open up the door for what he called privateers to come in and take the cream of the service, make the profits and leave the rump of the public health service in crisis.
Mr Merrigan also claimed unions would not roll over and allow that to happen, and accused the HSE of not believing in social partnership.
He insisted it was unfair to blame staff in the service for the problems when the financial structures and administrative systems in the HSE and contributed to the difficulties.
He said the main losses were arising in acute hospitals but asked were patients to be simply turned away.
