Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

I thank Deputy Sherlock for giving me the opportunity to reply on behalf of the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney.

I am advised that capital funding of €1.5 million was sanctioned by the Department of Health and Children for the installation and dedicated accommodation of a CT scanner at Mallow General Hospital in October 2004. Following receipt of fire certification and planning approvals, tendering arrangements for the entire project were put in place and work on the premises commenced in late 2005. In the meantime, tendering arrangements for the purchase of the scanner were also put in place. The scanner was delivered in December 2006 and the necessary commissioning works were undertaken by the supplier and completed in August 2007.

In regard to staffing, formal sanction for the posts was received by the HSE in September 2007 and the necessary arrangements to commence the recruitment and appointment of the appropriate staff were put in place without delay. Interviews for the clinical specialist radiographer, CT technician and senior radiographer were held during November 2007 and suitable candidates were identified. I understand that the HSE will be in a position to progress these appointments in the coming weeks.

Mallow General Hospital and Mercy University Hospital have approval for two consultant radiologist posts in a reciprocal sessional arrangement between the hospitals. The filling of these posts has been held up due to the consultants talks. The management of Mallow General Hospital, Mercy University Hospital and the southern hospital group are now in discussion on the timeframe for the filling of these posts. Subject to the staff being in place, it is expected that the CT scanner should be operational by May.

In regard to the budget, Mallow General Hospital has received a negative casemix adjustment of €571,233, based on 2006 activity. Casemix was introduced in an effort to collect, categorise and interpret hospital patient data related to the type of cases treated to assist managers define their services, measure productivity and assess quality. Casemix contributes towards equity, efficiency and transparency by clarifying and categorising hospital throughput. By allowing peer group comparisons, it creates an incentive for better performance. Management at Mallow General Hospital is currently examining the underlying causes of the negative casemix adjustment for 2008 and a rigorous scrutiny of the hospital's base costs is being carried out.

In regard to the other issues raised by the Deputy, I will obtain a copy of the report and request the parliamentary affairs division of the HSE to correspond directly with him.

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