Olivia Mitchell
Ceist:531 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Health and Children the administrative cost of the health service and the cost of front-line health professionals for the years 1997 and 2000. [21923/01]
Written Answers. - Health Service Expenditure.
The figures requested by the Deputy are shown in the following tabular statement. These figures have been extracted from the annual financial statements of the health boards. The 2000 figures for all health boards including the Eastern Regional Health Authority are unaudited. However, it is unlikely that these figures will change significantly on audit.
The grade category of management/ administration also includes staff who are of direct service to patients, such as consultants, secretaries, community welfare officers, out-patient department personnel, ward clerks, medical records personnel and telephonists who are engaged in front-line duties.
It is important to note that the purpose of many of the staff classified as management/ administration is to support front-line professionals in carrying out their duties more efficiently. Health professionals, especially consultants and nurse managers, require clerical support and request such appointments on an ongoing basis. The strengthening of the accountability of health boards in the context of the accountability legislation of 1996 has led to the strengthening of the finance function in health boards and in the development of the service planning and evaluation function. In addition, improvements in risk management, human resource management and health and safety practices have contributed to a growth in the management/administrative area.
|
Costs |
2000 Total Costs |
£m |
m |
1997 Total Costs |
£m |
m |
|
Management/Administration |
230.693 |
292.920 |
139.345 |
176.932 |
||
|
Medical/Dental |
472.462 |
599.903 |
334.922 |
425.263 |
||
|
Nursing |
823.903 |
1,046.141 |
615.013 |
780.905 |
||
|
Para-medical |
219.769 |
279.049 |
150.616 |
191.243 |
||
|
Support Services |
352.217 |
447.223 |
248.844 |
315.967 |
||
|
Maintenance/Technical |
36.493 |
46.337 |
30.064 |
38.173 |
||
|
Total |
2,135.537 |
2,711.573 |
1,518.804 |
1,928.483 |