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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 7 May 2003

Vol. 566 No. 1

Written Answers. - Hospital Services.

Liz McManus

Question:

123 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Health and Children the steps he intends to take to address the severe funding crisis facing major teaching hospitals in the greater Dublin area, having regard to the cutbacks and bed closures that a number of hospitals have had to impose, and the implications of these measures for waiting lists and patient care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11982/03]

Finian McGrath

Question:

402 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Minister for Health and Children the situation regarding the closure of wards at the Mater Hospital, Dublin; and if he will examine this crisis situation. [11351/03]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 123 and 402 together.

I have on a number of occasions acknowledged that this is a year of greater pressure in the health services and that the health sector will have to manage service plans during 2003 in order that spending is contained within the approved level. Given the significant level of additional investment in services up to and including 2002, and the fact that the actual exceeded the planned activity level in 2002, the structuring of overall service plans by health agencies for 2003 was always going to involve some containment of service activity in order to manage within budget. Under the Health (Amendment) (No. 3) Act 1996, otherwise known as the accountability legislation, health agencies are required to deliver a level of services consistent with their approved budgets. In a system that is demand-led and driven, in part, by high technology, any approach other than that set down in the legislation would create chaos in the health services. It would, ultimately, lead to the return of significant unapproved expenditure resulting in cash pressures which was the very reason why the 1996 legislation was introduced in the first place. It would also undermine the whole service planning process that is a key feature of the legislation and is a very positive aspect of the services since 1996. In regard to specific services, both the ERHA and the Dublin academic teaching hospitals, DATHs, have identified the areas of cancer, cardiovascular and renal as high priority specialities which should be protected as far as possible.

The level of capital investment for the five major academic teaching hospitals which has been invested over recent years, or is planned, amounts to €781 million. This is, by any standards, a significant sum and reflects the Government's commitment to providing for a high quality level of service in those hospitals.

The ERHA will be reporting to my Department very shortly on the overall situation and there will be a subsequent tripartite meeting between the Department, the ERHA and the DATHs to discuss the difficulties facing the services this year.

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