Two operating theatres at Waterford Regional Hospital are to close, according to the HSE South Regional Service Plan 2012.
In addition, 25 inpatients beds will close and savings in the area of high cost medicines will be sought.
Despite the reduction, 14.5 whole-time-equivalent posts will be created at the Hospital through the clinical programmes.
These include two acute medicine consultants, two emergency medicine consultants and one additional nephrologist, neurologist, dermatologist and cardiologist.
The Hospital’s new emergency department extension and neonatal unit are due to be completed by the end of 2012.
No bed closures were announced at Wexford General Hospital, but activity will be managed in line with budget reductions, the Plan states. The Hospital will introduce the Productive Theatre Initiative this year.
Meanwhile, in the Carlow, Kilkenny and South Tipperary area, five primary care teams are to be established this year along with a community intervention team in association with Caredoc.
Some 60 residential care beds will be closed in the region and at South Tipperary General Hospital, the National Integrated and Medical Imaging System (NIMIS) will be installed.
A change in NCHD rosters and a reduction in locum consultant leave will also be introduced at the Hospital.
