Written answers

Wednesday, 27 June 2012

9:00 pm

Photo of Gerry AdamsGerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 185: To ask the Minister for Health if he has instructed the Health Service Executive North East to reduce services in Louth County Hospital, Navan Hospital and other hospitals in the area due to cost over runs in the HSE North East region; the services that are being considered for cutbacks in services; the consultation that will be held with local elected representatives on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31085/12]

Photo of James ReillyJames Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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I am determined to address the issues leading to unacceptable delays in patients receiving treatment in our hospitals. I have established the Special Delivery Unit (SDU), which is working to unblock access to acute services by improving the flow of patients through the system and by streamlining waiting lists, including the management of GP referrals by hospitals. The SDU is working closely with its partner agencies - mainly the HSE and the National Treatment Purchase Fund. (NTPF).

As an initial priority, public hospitals were instructed to ensure that, by the end of 2011, they had no patients waiting more than 12 months for treatment. I can confirm that 95% of hospitals achieved this objective. During 2012, the SDU will support hospitals in achieving a 9 month maximum waiting time for inpatient and daycase surgery.

Very significant progress had been made on the SDU initiatives on unscheduled care in emergency departments (EDs): the number of patients waiting on trolleys was 27% lower than the previous year. This equates to significant numbers of patients whose experience of our EDs was markedly improved. Similarly, new targets for access to diagnostics and outpatient appointments, which the SDU is currently focusing on, will be key to the overall improvement of hospital services in Ireland.

The HSE receives annual funding, from within which it agrees to deliver the targets for scheduled and unscheduled care in the Annual Service Plan. Cost containment plans are in place for hospitals and community services to bring their spending profiles in line with their allocations, as no additional funding is available for this year. There are limited financial resources available to the SDU and the NTPF, to assist individual hospitals with specific measures to achieve these targets. The Programme for Government has a commitment to reforming hospital funding and to introducing a more transparent and efficient 'money follows the patient' system. Work is continuing on the development of this, as part of the Universal Health Insurance System. In addition, the HSE is using prospective funding arrangements for certain elective orthopaedic procedures at some hospitals. This funding mechanism is procedure-based and similar money follows the patient initiatives will be rolled out to other hospitals and procedures, on a phased basis.

The impact of staff reductions from this year and previous years presents a significant challenge for the health system in delivering services. Employment numbers must be reduced to approximately 102,000 by the end of this year, in line with the Government's commitment to reduce public expenditure. Therefore, replacement will only occur in critical areas.

There has, however, been considerable redeployment in the health sector under the Public Service Agreement. This includes staff flexibility in continuing to deliver services during and after retirements. The Health Sector Action Plan for 2012, under the Public Service Agreement, includes provision for further use of redeployment in the health sector.

I have forwarded the particular queries raised by the Deputy to the HSE, who will respond directly to the Deputy in relation to those particular matters.

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