The amount of health funding available to each of the former health boards and the ERHA in 2003 and 2004 on a per capita basis is set out in the following table.
Per Capita Funding — 2003 and 2004 Revised Determination.
Health Board/Authority
|
2003 Funding per capita based on Revised Determination
|
2004 Funding per capita based on Revised Determination
|
|
€
|
€
|
Eastern Regional Health Authority
|
2,266
|
2,450
|
Midland Health Board
|
1,780
|
1,944
|
Mid-Western Health Board *
|
1,691
|
1,796
|
North Eastern Health Board
|
1,526
|
1,639
|
North Western Health Board
|
2,127
|
2,327
|
South Eastern Health Board
|
1,605
|
1,740
|
Southern Health Board*
|
1,743
|
1,879
|
Western Health Board
|
1,981
|
2,116
|
*Mid-Western Health Board figures include St. John's Hospital, Limerick; Southern Health Board figures include the Mercy Hospital, Cork, South Infirmary/Victoria Hospital, Cork and Cork University Dental School and Hospital.
As can be seen from the figures shown, there were varying levels of funding in each of the former health boards and the ERHA areas. The variations reflect a number of factors which, to different degrees, impact on service provision of former boards. Such factors include, the presence of national and regional specialties, the effect of case mix outcomes in respect of acute hospital performance, the instances of patient transfer between former boards and demographic factors.
From 2005 onwards, a new vote, Vote 40, contains the voted funding for the Health Service Executive, which now has the responsibility for delivering health and personal social services. It will be a matter for the executive and its management to determine how best to fund the different service directorates going forward.