asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the criteria used by him, or by agencies under his aegis, in allocating funds between hospitals; if these are objective criteria based on commonly agreed data or subjective ones based on judgment; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Allocation of Funds for Hospitals.
36.
In determining the allocation of funds between hospitals by or on behalf of my Department account is taken of a number of factors. Chief amongst these are (a) the role of the hospital (b) the specialty mix and (c) levels of activity. The allocations are therefore based on specific and measurable criteria.
Work has been in progress in the Department with the objective of developing a new methodology which will link in a measurable way hospital output with resource allocation. The application of this methodology when fully developed — the present intention is to introduce it in making the 1989 allocations — will enable allocations to be made on a specific volume of services.