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HSE Funding

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 July 2019

Tuesday, 23 July 2019

Questions (1454, 1484)

Stephen Donnelly

Question:

1454. Deputy Stephen Donnelly asked the Minister for Health his views on the assertion in the CHO7 2019 operation plan that in view of the rising demand for more complex services to support persons, there is insufficient funding for pay cost pressures and non-pay inflation and that sufficient funding has not been provided in CHO7 in 2019 to maintain 2018 levels of service. [32966/19]

View answer

Stephen Donnelly

Question:

1484. Deputy Stephen Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the steps being taken to address the under provision of accounting and financial management capacity in CHO6 which remains a significant challenge according to the CHO6 2019 operational plan. [33171/19]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1454 and 1484 together.

After the approval of the National Service Plan, the next step in the HSE’s planning process is the preparation of the more detailed Operational Plans for each Division/CHO/Hospital Group. For 2019 each area’s operational plan is required to incorporate measures to achieve both an affordable level of staffing and the saving measures required to deliver a break-even position. Patient safety is prioritised, and consistent with the Sláintecare programme, the HSE must deliver on the activity, access, improvement and other targets set out in the National Service Plan, albeit this must be done within the affordable staffing level and without exceeding the overall budget.

The operational plans are prepared at a point in time and must be viewed in this manner; they will be consistently evolving based on experience during the year.

Delivering the national service plan priorities will require a significantly enhanced focus on financial management and the HSE has committed to supporting its senior managers who will be held to account in this regard.

The HSE Chief Executive, following his appointment in May, completed a comprehensive review of the HSE financial position with senior managers. He has acknowledged the clear message from Government that the HSE is required to deliver effective and safe services within the 2019 funding allocation in the National Service Plan. He has persistently articulated this position and he has been fully supported by the Secretary General and the Chair of the HSE Board.

My Department is working with the HSE to limit the overrun to the greatest extent possible, while ensuring commitment to the agreed deliverables. This is within the context that health funding is a major policy challenge internationally, with larger and older populations, with more acute health and social care requirements, increased demand for new and existing drugs and the rising costs of health technology.

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