Statement from the IHCA re Budget 2015

Statement from the Irish Hospital Consultants Association re: Budget 2015

The Irish Hospital Consultants (IHCA) has expressed its concern that the proposed 2015 health budget will not be enough to meet the anticipated increased patient demand for care.

Commenting on Budget 2015, Dr Gerard Crotty, President of the IHCA, said: “It is disappointing that the proposed 2015 health budget is insufficient to offset the underfunding in this year’s budget and repeated cuts in recent years. Additional funding to treat a growing number of patients in public hospitals is required because of our increasing and ageing population and reductions in health insurance coverage.”

Dr Crotty said that demographic changes alone increase health care funding needs by around 3% per annum. There is a crisis in the health service and it is a real concern that the acute hospital and mental health services will continue to struggle to provide care to an increasing number of patients because of a lack of frontline resources. There is little doubt that the lack of frontline resources will impact adversely on patient care leading to longer waiting lists unless addressed.

ENDS

For further information contact:

James Dunny, FleishmanHillard 086 3883903