Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 9 Oct 2003

Written Answers. - Hospital Services.

Brian O'Shea

Ceist:

22 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Health and Children the estimated cost in 2003 for each of the major Dublin teaching hospitals of providing the existing level of services; the difference in each case between this estimate and the budget determination for each hospital, less once-offs; the cutbacks in services which will result; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22547/03]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

The total budget allocation for the DATHS increased from €871.7 million in 2002 to €900.5 million in the current year, an increase of 3%. When account is taken of once-off, non-recurring funds of €28 million provided in 2002, the increase in 2003 over 2002 is €57 million or 5.5%. In addition, some of the hospitals entered 2003 with expenditure overruns of approximately €14 million which had to be treated as a first charge before developing the service plan for 2003. The amount in respect of each hospital is set out in the following table:

Hospital	2002Determination	Once-off2002	2003Determination
Tallaght	150.6	3.3	155.3
Beaumont	175.1	6.7	181.7
Mater	155.0	4.8	159.0
St. James's	254.9	6.1	267.1
St. Vincents	136.1	7.3	137.4
Total	871.7	28.2	900.5

The Dublin academic teaching hospitals, DATHS, are providing similar levels of service in 2003 as they did in 2002. In-patient and day case activity across the five hospitals for the eight months ended August 2003 when compared to the same period in 2002 shows an increase of 1.5% or an additional 2,217 cases, bringing the number of cases treated to 153,664. Therefore, I do not anticipate that the final overall level of services for these hospitals for 2003 will be less than 2002.

Hospitals have been working closely with the authority since the start of the year in relation to expenditure control and service plan delivery. A programme of savings measures is being implemented by each hospital within the approved funding to allow for the delivery of the service plan. These are under continuous review to allow for revision, where necessary.