TD questions if cuts and closure of parts of Breast Care clinic at St James’ are being redirected to National Children’s Hospital overrun
People Before Profit TD Bríd Smith, following the publication of the PWC report into cost overruns at the National Children’s Hospital, has said that “reprofiling of funds and spending delays” are merely just “government spin to mask the cuts that they are making in order to fill the gap in the budget for the National Children’s Hospital”.
She said: “Spending delays and reprofiling of funds are cuts by another name. The government have now admitted that they are cutting projects like roads, the carbon fund and flood defences to pay for the cost overruns at the National Children’s Hospital which the PWC report has said are set to go above €1.7bn.
“The government are basically robbing Peter to pay Paul – depriving communities of much needed projects to cover the cost of their monumental mistake at the National Children’s Hospital.”
The TD for Dublin South Central also questioned if cuts to the Breast Care Family Risk Clinic at St James’ Hospital are being redirected to the cost overruns at the National Children’s Hospital.
“Once again we see women’s health care being cut. Surely the government realised from the CervicalCheck scandal that you cannot provide women’s healthcare on the cheap. These cuts are a scandal and I have asked a parliamentary question of the Minister for Health to explain why there have been cuts and a partial closure of the Breast Care Clinic at St James’ Hospital.
“I am looking for his assurances that these cuts, which are a disgrace and must be reversed, are not being inflicted in order to redirect funds to the National Children’s Hospital.
