asked the Minister for Health if he has received an application from the Midland Health Board for additional money to maintain the service in the region at the same level as last year; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Midland Health Board.
20.
I have not received such an application. There is at present a difference of £381,000 in the board's estimate of their requirement to maintain services in 1976 at the 1975 level, as against their allocation of £16.915 million, of which £12.1 million is for direct expenditure by the board. This difference is, however, still under discussion between the Department and the board with a view to eliminating the difference, which amounts to 2 per cent of the total.
Is the Minister indicating that when the discussions are completed between his officials and those of the Midland Health Board it will be possible to arrange that services for the region can be maintained at the same level as last year?
The economies I am aware of certainly do not provide for a cutdown in any of the services. There is a difference still outstanding of 2 per cent between the Department's allocation and the amount agreed by the Midland Health Board and discussions are going on between them to see how further economies can be made in order to eliminate that 2 per cent difference.
The Minister said the economies now being contemplated would not interfere with services. Could he give us any idea of what sort of economies are envisaged?
As far as hospital services are concerned, there is an agreement between the health board and departmental officials that £191,000 could be saved by a reduction in the provision for locums. That is in the hospital service and does not include any of the medical personnel, including the surgeons because most of the hospitals in that region are single-physician, single-surgeon hospitals. There is also an agreed reduction in the provisions for medical equipment, pathology, heating, furniture and maintenance, amounting to £170,000. In the community services there is elimination of locum cover except for assistance officers, representing a saving of £82,000; replacement of ambulances and dental equipment, £39,000 and in the central services a saving on locums for clerical staff of £12,000; a saving on training and advertising of £12,000. There was additional income which had not been provided for by the health board of £17,500, making a total saving of £524,000 on £905,000. There is still a gap of £381,000.