TD welcomes increase in Louth-Meath hospital funding

Labour TD, Gerald Nash has welcomed the announcement that the Louth-Meath Hospital Group has had its funding increased by 14% for the coming year. "There was a shortfall in funding last year and while great strides have been made to eliminate waste and bring in greater efficiencies. I was always of the view that ultimately more funding would be required and I made that case repeatedly to Minister Reily," he said. The Labour TD for Louth, which includes part of East Meath, added: "I think that not all hospitals across the country were presenting their accounts and budgets in a uniform manner. Last year the hospitals in the Louth-Meath group appeared to be underperforming cost wise compared to other hospitals across the country. I met with senior management of the hospital group many times last year and they felt that they were not being fairly evaluated, concerns which I brought back to the Minister. The budget adjustments announced for 2013 are proof that those concerns have been taken into account. A 14% increase is fantastic news for the hospital group and is concrete recognition of the excellent work being done in all these hospitals, particularly Our Lady of Lourdes in Drogheda as this is the key acute hospital for the region."