Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 29 September 2010
592 Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Health and Children her views regarding the Health Service Executive’s budgetary cutbacks proposals for the Health Service Executive West region including County Clare; the implications for the delivery of frontline services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32114/10]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe HSE is working within limited financial resources. The appropriate management of the public finances means that the health sector, which represents over 27% of public expenditure, must operate within the approved budget set out at the start of the year. The key objectives to be addressed within this budget are patient safety and the protection of services. The HSE's 2010 Service Plan targeted delivery of the same overall levels of service as were achieved last year. So far this year these service targets are being met and, indeed, in some cases exceeded.
As the Deputy is aware, the National Service Plan 2010 also contained a number of economic and cost avoidance measures for 2010 (in addition to a continuation of 2009 measures). The Government made significant decisions on pay reductions, non-pay spending, revenue raising and employment control in the Budget. The HSE is implementing these measures in order to deliver the Service Plan within its available resources. It is clear that the financial challenges underpinning the HSE's delivery of the Service Plan, while achievable, continue to require careful budgetary management across the organisation and its funded agencies.
With regard to budgetary issues in the West, at the end of March HSE West was facing a projected end year deficit of €130m. Significant cost containment efforts have been undertaken. The latest indication from the HSE West is that at the end of August there is a potential year end excess of €49m. This represents a substantial reduction on the projected excess but obviously demands continued management of expenditure. At a Labour Relations Commission hearing in August, the HSE West and the health sector unions signed a framework document agreeing to engage with one another on addressing the budget deficit whilst protecting jobs and services. This offers the best approach in meeting the health care needs of the people of the region.
Notwithstanding the difficult financial environment, the Government is determined to do everything possible to protect patient services, to respond to priority demographic and other needs and to support ongoing reform of the public heath services within the resources 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 to patients cannot be protected. There is responsibility on everyone involved to deliver services within budget in new ways that will serve patient needs in accordance with international practice.
