HSE reports losses of €250m
The Health Service Executive has reported losses of more than €250m for last year.
Publishing its latest annual report today, the organisation said the biggest drain on its finances was an 11% increase in demand for medical cards and primary care.
The money spent on medicine - particularly cancer drugs - increased by 23% in 2008.
Elsewhere, more than 4,800 complaints were made to the HSE during the year, more than half of which related to treatment and service delivery.
Almost three-quarters of them were handled within the target period of 30 days.
The HSE said its biggest challenge this year will be encouraging staff to cooperate with changes to work practices and rosters.
It has already suffered a backlash from doctors, nurses and other health workers over a recruitment freeze in the public service.
