Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 25 April 2012
228 Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health if he will allocate additional funding to purchase an extra MRI scanner for Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20872/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI believe we must concentrate on getting the best possible services for patients from the budgets available to us. The work of the Special Delivery Unit, together with implementation of the Clinical Care Programmes in the HSE, will help to improve the efficiency of our hospitals, allowing us to treat as many patients as possible within budget. In the current economic climate, the acute sector must reduce its costs in order to deliver the agreed level of activity within the resources available to it. The emphasis in 2012 will continue to be to make the most effective use of acute bed capacity through shorter lengths of stay, increased rates of day-of-surgery admission and more day surgery. In this way the acute hospital system can ensure that, within the level of resources available, it provides safe, effective and efficient care to the maximum number of patients. In relation to the specific query raised by the Deputy, as this is a service matter, it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
