Health

Donnelly told HSE of ‘critical’ need to manage financial risks three months before deficit emerged

Minister for Health wrote to HSE chair Ciarán Devane to express concerns over the risks associated with this year’s health budget as part of the HSE’s National Service Plan

Ciarán Devane, chairman, HSE, received a letter from Donnelly in March. Picture: RollingNews

As moves towards a seven-day rostering system in the health service gather momentum, existing pressures around recruitment and the wider health budget have come into focus.

Stephen Donnelly, the Minister for Health, last week flagged concerns over financial risks in the annual health budget, but emails seen by the Business Post show that three months ago he had been raising these same concerns with Ciarán Devane, chair of the HSE board.

In mid-March, Donnelly wrote ...