Vol. 377 No. 1
asked the Minister for Health if he has completed consideration of the budget schedule from each health board area detailing the way in which they planned to live within their non-capital allocation for 1988; and if he will give details of hospitals that are to be closed during 1988.
284.
asked the Minister for Health if he will indicate in respect of each health board areas the measures proposed to be implemented to ensure that expenditure remains within the non-capital allocation for 1988.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 283 and 284 together. The Western and Mid-Western Health Boards have not yet submitted budget proposals to my Department.
As regards the other six boards, the measures necessary, to ensure compliance with budgetary limits, include:
—savings in staff costs through a reduction in numbers and reduction in the level of premium payments;
—increasing efficiency in the areas of maintenance, energy consumption, provisions and transport;
—restriction of admissions at weekends to emergencies;
—maximising income from canteen charges, private accommodation, inpatient and out-patient charges etc.;
—rationalisation of wards to ensure maximum efficiency in the use of resources.
No hospital closures are envisaged by these boards.
