The Saolta Hospital group  - which includes public hospitals in Mayo, Roscommon, Galway, Sligo and Donegal - is facing  a deficit of over 36 million euro this year unless the Government steps in, and this could have a serious impact on front-line services into next year.

That’s according to Roscommon-Galway Independent TD Michael Fitzmaurice who attended a briefing with the HSE West yesterday.

Oireachtas members were given details of the activity and budgets at the 6 hospitals in the Saolta Group – from Letterkenny down to Galway University Hospital.

Deputy Fitzmaurice says a number of concerns emerged from yesterday’s briefing – including the recently-agreed public service pay agreement, which will cost the Saolta Group an extra 3.4 million euro that was not planned for in this year’s Budget.

It also emerged that the Saolta Group are employing 800 more staff than they did in 2012,  but were unable to say how many were frontline staff, and how many are in administration.

Deputy Fitzmaurice says the forecast budget deficit of over 36 million euro this year is a worrying development….