Written answers

Tuesday, 31 January 2006

Department of Health and Children

Hospital Services

8:00 pm

Paudge Connolly (Cavan-Monaghan, Independent)
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Question 267: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if special unique difficulties of suspensions of consultant surgeons and severe overcrowding were taken into account in her Department's penalising of Cavan General Hospital to the extent of €220,563 under the new casemix incentivisation scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2756/06]

Photo of Mary HarneyMary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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All the hospitals which participate in the national casemix programme are actively encouraged to make submission on issues of concern to them to the casemix technical group in my Department, which is responsible for reviewing cost and activity data for inclusion in the budget model. Costs relating to matters which might reasonably be considered beyond local management control may be deducted following review. A deduction was allowed in relation to some costs incurred at the hospital. No allowance was made for pressure on services as this led to an increase in activity and a consequent lowering of unit costs, resulting in an improving financial outturn. This is reflected in the fact that the loss under casemix was less this year than last. I hope this trend will continue and it will return to having a positive outturn. It should be noted that the hospital has gained considerable funding over the years from casemix. In 2004 alone it gained almost €750,000.

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