Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)

The refusal by a charitable organisation like the Daughters of Wisdom to continue to provide this service because of the €1.3 million shortfall in funding is a reflection of a much wider malaise in the health service. Unfortunately, this problem is also evident in hospitals and in other locations throughout the country where essential services are provided. The civil servants and health service managers who are responsible for administering the cuts - the Government has asked them to do so - have little choice other than to continue to do their best with the limited resources that are being given to them. The Government is handing a certain amount of reduced funding to hospitals and other health service providers throughout the country. It is telling hospital managers, doctors and nurses to like it or lump it and to offer whatever level of service they can from the limited funds that are being provided. The patients are having to lump it, unfortunately.

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