THERE are fresh fears for the future of services at SWAH after it was revealed the Western Trust has to find £20 million in savings by early next year.
Once again the people of Fermanagh are gearing up for a battle against health cuts after it emerged the Western Trust has been told it urgently needed to plug a growing hole in its budget. A report from the Health and Social Care Board (HSCB) revealed the Trust worked up a budget deficit of £12.5 million between July and April. It is forecast that by the end of the financial year in March it will have a deficit of £35 million.
While the Department of Health has a recovery plan to help with some of the shortfall, the Trust will still have to make £20 million savings itself. The HSCB has said “high impact measures” were needed to plug the Trust’s budget, which will require public consultation.
Cllr Donal O’Cofaigh said the people of Fermanagh “need to be mobilising to defend services because we can’t allow ourselves to become the collateral damage in an austerity budget.”
Two years ago, when the Trust was told to make £13.5 million in savings, it proposed essentially removing neo-natal services from SWAH. This, along with other proposed cuts to domicillary care and elective procedures, prompted public anger, forcing the Trust to find cuts elsewhere.
To read more.. Subscribe to current edition
Receive quality journalism wherever you are, on any device. Keep up to date from the comfort of your own home with a digital subscription.
Any time | Any place | Anywhere