Health budget an opportunity to refocus on delivering reforms – Buttimer

Fine Gael TD for Cork South Central and Chairperson of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health and Children, Jerry Buttimer, has said the first budget since 2009 which does not cut the health budget offers an opportunity to stabilise the delivery of services and refocus reform.   Deputy Buttimer has also called for the lifting of the public sector recruitment moratorium to be used to recruit frontline staff and reduce the dependency on agency staff.

“Budget 2015 is the first since 2009 which does not cut the amount allocated to the Department of Health.   This presents an opportunity to stabilise the delivery of services and refocus on delivering reforms.   The additional €625 million will ensure that existing services can be maintained and that improvements in certain areas can be made.

“It is a very positive development that in 2015 BreastCheck will be expanded to include women up to the age of 69.   This move will provide access to potentially lifesaving screening for women aged between 65 and 69.   The Budget also provides for the further roll out of free GP services and I hope that all parties engage constructively to ensure that this important policy which aims to increase access to primary care is delivered.

“One aspect of Budget 2015 which must be taken advantage of is the lifting of the recruitment moratorium.    Since the moratorium has been introduced it has increased the pressure on frontline staff who deliver high quality healthcare against a backdrop of fewer colleagues to deliver these essential services.   The effect of the moratorium has been an increased reliance on agency staff. At the end of July this resulted in a 42% increase in agency costs compared to 2013.   The lifting of the recruitment moratorium must now be used to reduce the reliance on agency staff.”