The annual HSE National Service Plan is the primary vehicle through which my Department monitors and evaluates the performance of the Executive to ensure that health services are delivered in accordance with Government policy. My Department is working collaboratively with the HSE to develop and refine performance measures across all service areas matched with timescales to ensure that they are as robust as possible and reflect key priorities and international best practice as well as being comparable both within the EU and further afield. My Department has an agreed monitoring framework with the HSE and receives detailed comprehensive monthly reports on all aspects of the National Service Plan. These Performance Reports are published on the HSE's website each month following approval by the HSE Board.
I approved the HSE National Service Plan 2010 on 5 February. In approving the Plan, I highlighted to the HSE the need to deliver, at a minimum, the levels of service set out in the Plan as well as operating within the limits of its Voted allocation of €14.069bn. The Government made a series of decisions that will reduce HSE costs this year by some €1bn, made up of pay savings of €630m and non-pay savings of €394m. The latter includes a target of €106m in non-pay economies to be saved by the HSE in 2010, including substantial procurement savings. I believe this is achievable without affecting client care.
The Plan commits the HSE to delivering activity levels for 2010 which are broadly in line with 2009 levels. Notwithstanding the difficult financial environment, the Government has made available additional resources to assist the HSE in responding to priority demographic and other needs and to support ongoing reform of the public health services. By reducing costs, and reforming the way services are provided, I am confident the HSE will maintain access to services and continue to improve health outcomes for the population.
Last month I received the second biannual report against the HSE Corporate Plan 2008-2011 which charts progress against desired medium and longer term objectives and priorities as set out in the Corporate Plan and implemented annually through the National Service Plan. This helps the Department and the HSE to track performance trends across the health sector and to inform future strategic and annual service planning.
I am determined to do everything possible to protect services for patients, within the resources we have available for health. To achieve this, staff at all levels will have to work together to deliver services in a more flexible way. Without that co-operation and flexibility, services for patients cannot be protected. It is not just for HSE management to protect services: there is a responsibility on everyone involved to deliver services within budget in new ways that will serve patient needs in accordance with international best practice.
