HSE Service Plan 2014 Approved

The Minister for Health, James Reilly, T.D., has approved the HSE Service plan 2014, which will see the HSE save €619million. The plan hopes to protect safety, quality and the volume of front-line services, with €178million of new service initiatives. The HSE has also said that €113million in savings will not come from medical card holders. The HSE has been given €13.12 billion worth of funding from the exchequer for 2014, this is a reduction of €619million from 2013.

The government and the HSE have worked closely to prevent €113million in savings coming from medical card holders, however €23million will remain part of the cost saving coming from medical cards, with additional money coming from the exchequer worth €43million, the rest will come from a reduction in money set aside for lump-sum pension payments.

Payroll savings will also be put a side and will be part of a separate process over the coming months.

€129million of savings will come from procurement, shared services, value for money and hospital reconfiguration.

Mr. Tony O'Brien, Director General of the HSE; commented; "This is the first Service Plan to be presented by the newly established Directorate of the HSE. I welcome the support of Government in dealing with some of the concerns that arose following budget day. Notwithstanding, there remains a significant challenge for the health services throughout 2014. My principal focus is to continue to deliver the same level of frontline services with a reduced budget while ensuring that quality and safety is not compromised in any way. In the context of a reduced budget, the Haddington Road Agreement provides an important mechanism by which this Service Plan can be delivered."