The Eastern Regional Health Authority has a total of €1.154 billion available to purchase acute hospital services in 2003. This figure includes additional funding of €9.45 million to support the consolidation of acute hospital services agreed and funded in recent years. This is the basis upon which the ERHA developed and agreed its own 2003 service plan with the Department of Health and Children. Additional funding has also been provided to meet the costs associated with the recruitment of additional consultants in emergency medicine and consultant anaesthetists, and for cancer, cardiology and renal dialysis services.