However, official correspondence suggests, despite receiving an increase of nearly €600 million this year, the HSE fears it could face an unprecedented cash crisis by the end of 2018. However, internal correspondence shows the HSE believed a lot more money would be needed to maintain existing levels of service. The documents show the HSE initially sought €1.481 billion in additional funding to maintain current service levels in 2018. After extensive discussions, eventually a national service plan on how to spend the €14.5 billion budget was submitted by the HSE, approved by Harris , and formally announced about a month ago. The €346 million value improvement programme savings were to be broken down into three “themes” or strands of €77 million, €119 million and €150 million.

Source: The Irish Times January 22, 2018 00:56 UTC