A Sinn Féin senator has said that three of the eight operating theatres at one of the country's biggest hospitals are due to close because of cutbacks.
Senator David Cullinane says proposed cuts at Waterford Regional Hospital will impact on patient services and that the HSE is proposing to close operating theatres, a surgical ward, four paediatric in-patient beds, and one intensive care bed.
From documents he has seen, he says there are also plans for reductions of the number of in-patients, day patients, and outpatients that will be seen every day, reductions in agency staff, and an increase in car park charges.
The HSE has responded by saying its National Service Plan was approved by the Minister for Health on 13 January.
It says that the HSE South is currently finalising its regional service plan taking account of the significant level of budget reduction, the Government moratorium on staff recruitment, as well as the expected increase in staff retiring early.
This process will be completed in the coming weeks, it said, and HSE South will publish its Regional Service Plan at the Regional Health Forum on 9 February.
They say a detailed consultation and information process has commenced with all unions and staff associations in relation to overall implementation of the plan for the year.
