Colm Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

In the report it was stated that 42 audits dealing with procurement were carried out and that deficiencies were identified. This has all been kept within the HSE. We have not been given any information as regards the deficiencies that were identified and the cost to the taxpayer where proper procedures were not followed or where there were deficiencies. What action was taken where deficiencies were clearly identified? We have no clarification of whether there were any breaches on that issue and whether action was taken in respect of the people employed. We are talking about 42 different audits and there were deficiencies but we have no information on that. As a health committee, we are entitled to information on what the deficiencies were and what action was taken to deal with them.

The second issue I want to raise is budgets within hospitals. We have heard the complaint over a period of time about end of year, where units are afraid that if they do not use up their budget, it will be cut for the following year. An example of that was presented to me in the last two months in the southern region regarding the rush to get orders in before the end of the year. Has that practice changed? If so, what is now the procedure if a hospital or a unit does not use up its full budget and is penalised the following year? It may not have used up its full budget because it has become more efficient.

The third issue relates to pharmaceutical items. I have become aware of instances where, for example, a medical unit has a budget for drugs and pharmaceuticals and rather than using this up internally, it gives a prescription. The patient goes out and gets the item in a pharmacy and comes back into the unit for the treatment with that prescription. Therefore, there is an additional cost to the HSE in the process. Has that been audited at any time and are procedures in place to ensure there is no additional cost to the taxpayer?