Ivor Callely
Question:153 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Health his views on whether the health budget is been drained due to unnecessary and excessive patient investigation in hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Health Budget.
I am conscious that individual consultants should be free to carry out whatever tests and investigations they consider to be in the best interests of their patients health.
However, the Department has in recent years been developing a number of techniques, particularly in the acute hospital area, which will assist it and the health agencies in better evaluating whether resources are being used in the most efficient and cost effective manner. These techniques include the application of casemix measures, this approach allows hospitals and individual practitioners to compare various aspects of their work load in a standardised way and to review it with their colleagues and their peers in other sites. Other areas of evaluation of performance includes clinical audit which will give clinicians a better idea of whether their work is providing the best outcome for their patients. My Department is promoting several initiatives in this area.