HSE to follow through on cuts

Following a meeting on 12 March, the Department of Health is set to move early next month to reduce the fees of dentists and other professionals providing State services.

Having reviewed its projected financial position, the best estimate of the HSE and the Department is that the financial shortfall is of the order of €480m in the current year. Although the revised figure presented is approximately €200m less than feared in recent weeks, HSE chief Brendan Drumm warned cuts in frontline services could not be avoided.

It is therefore recognised that these are the best estimates currently possible and are subject to ongoing review as further information becomes available.