A €3.5 million deficit at Letterkenny General Hospitals is to be paid off by the HSE – thanks to the brilliant work of staff.
Donegaldaily.com can reveal that the Health Minister Mary Harney took the decision after being impressed by how hard-pressed staff had already implemented €5.5M in cuts.
Everything from water coolers to medical supplies were slashed in a bid by Hospitals manager Sean Murphy to meet new budgets set by the HSE.
It means the Letterkenny hospitals will start 2011 without any debts, a move which hospital sources say will protect services and nurses next year.
It’s understood the €3.5 in outstanding deficits will be cleared by other savings elsewhere in the HSE.
One Letterkenny General Hospital insider told donegaldaily.com: “Christmas has come early as far as we are concerned. Things won’t improve drastically, but at least they won’t get any worse.”