Mr. Maurice Power:

In regard to Deputy Kelleher's questions, ICT is a major issue for groups. There is a lack of integration across the Saolta group in terms of patient administration systems, financial systems and HR systems. As part of our ICT strategy, we are working with the HSE chief information officer to put in place some of those systems. For example, one of the projects in respect of which we propose to seek immediate funding is a group patient administration system which will tie in with the unique patient identifier. This will allow us to track any patient in any hospital. There is a piece of work to be done on that and in respect of the appropriate funding for it. We are also working on the introduction of a document management system which will involve the conversion of physical charts to electronic charts. Work on this system has commenced. Ultimately, the key ICT development will be in the area of electronic patient records, EPR, so that from the point of entry into hospital of a patient his or her full record will be available electronically to anybody who needs it. The critical issue in this regard will be integration of this system with general practitioners and the community care sector so that we have an overall patient record available to all staff. I understand that Mr. Richard Corbridge, chief information officer, has made a submission on the cost of an electronic patient record, EPR, system for the Republic of Ireland and that a significant capital investment will be required. This system is critical to the integration of services between GPs, communities and ourselves.

In regard to ED analysis, there is also a project under way, in respect of which Saolta is taking the lead, on the implementation of what is known as an unscheduled care information system. As stated by Members critical to this will be information on the reason patients are attending emergency departments. As I said, work on this project has commenced, with a view to implementation of the system in 2017. Saolta is the pilot site in this regard. In regard to purchasing, I agree with the Deputy that we need to look at managed equipment services. In terms of capital spend, we do not have the necessary money to invest in equipment requirements and so we need to look at levelling off in this area over a period. Managed equipment services is the way forward in terms of delivery in that regard.

On Deputy Brassil's questions, we do recruit locally. We are currently facing challenges recruiting people to work in Galway and in Donegal. They are two difficult locations to recruit but in terms of Portiuncula and Roscommon hospitals we do recruit locally. In regard to the overall funding situation and targets, the current income deficit for Saolta is approximately €8 million, which is less than 1% of our overall budget. The priority for me as chief executive officer is to ensure that patients are admitted based on their acuity.