Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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Question 39: To ask the Minister for Health if he will made a statement on the recent major cuts to services at Waterford Regional Hospital. [8347/12]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Yesterday I explained to the House in a previous question that reducing public service numbers is an integral part of the Government's drive to reduce public expenditure. Health service employment numbers must be reduced to approximately 102,000 by the end of this year. Further reductions will be required over the coming years.

The Regional Service Plans are currently being finalised and the exact ceiling for each service has not yet been determined. However Waterford Regional Hospital is subject to the same restrictions as the rest of the health service.

There were 1,851 employees in Waterford Regional Hospital, expressed as whole time equivalents (wte), in March 2009. Up to December 2011 this figure had reduced by 131 to 1,720. A significant portion of the reduction is accounted for in the Management Administration and General Support staff grades. The Hospital is aware of a further 41 employees (wtes) who will be leaving during 2012. This equates to 2.43% of current staff and is well within the national target of 3%.

The total amount spent by the hospital on agency staff in 2009 was €0.8m. The figures for 2010 and 2011 were €3.1m and €3.2m respectively.

Medical agency costs have accounted for the bulk of agency spend. They were €0.3m in 2009, €1.9m. in 2010 and €2m in 2011. However I am informed that since October 2011 the hospital has eliminated its spend on medical agency costs through a combination of cost saving measure and the recruitment of NCHDs..

The remaining agency costs are largely for para medical and support staff. In 2012 the challenge for the hospital is to address its remaining spend on agency costs in the same effective way in which it has tackled the issue with medical cover. The HSE National Service Plan commits to a reduction of up to 50% in agency costs.

The 2012, Employment Control Framework will be finalised shortly. I envisage that, the HSE will still have discretion to decide on exceptional appointments to minimise service, quality and safety risks. I am not suggesting that there will be wholesale replacement of staff or that there are easy options here. Part of the solution must be to implement the National Clinical Programmes to improve efficiency along with quality, to manage performance relentlessly, contain costs and to look at all available options including redeployment and re assignment of staff.