Tony Gregory
Question:409 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Health and Children his views on recent reports of potential cutbacks in dialysis and cancer treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7056/03]
Written Answers - Cancer Treatment Services.
The Eastern Regional Health Authority is charged with responsibility for commissioning health and personal social services on behalf of the population of the region, and also on behalf of those outside the region who are referred for specialist treatment.
The Eastern Regional Health Authority is currently in discussions with all providers within its region, including the major acute hospitals in the Dublin area, to finalise the level of services to be provided in 2003. It will be a matter for the authority and each of the respective hospitals to agree on any specific measures to be taken to ensure that each hospital continues to maintain a high level of service within available resources. I want to emphasise that none of the proposals contained in the leaked document, referred to recently in the House, has been agreed with the ERHA.
The provider discussions are expected to conclude within the next two weeks and I have asked the ERHA to report back to my Department on the outcome.
The authority accepts that 2003 will be a difficult year for the acute hospitals sector, as increases in funding over last year will be limited. There is a clear need for tight management of cost and activity in 2003 in the context of working within available resources.
Provision has been made in the authority's service plan for the completion of major initiatives which commenced in 2002, such as the introduction under the Government's bed capacity initiative of over 300 additional acute hospital beds in the region, including an additional 35 beds at Beaumont Hospital. The revenue funding for these additional beds has already been notified to the authority. The hospital has advised that these additional beds will come on stream in the very near future.
The authority has received additional funding of €9.450 million to support the consolidation of acute hospital services. This funding will be allocated among the service providers to assist in meeting the increased costs of current levels of activity, and to fund service developments initiated in 2002. This funding includes an additional €1.4 million for the continued provision of national specialty services.
Additional funding has also been provided to meet the cost associated with the recruitment of additional consultants in emergency medicine and consultant anaesthetists, and for cancer, cardiology and renal dialysis services.