Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Health if he will outline the actions needed to be taken by Beaumont, Mater, Limerick Regional, CUH and Galway Regional hospitals to correct their deficits by the end of the year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40960/12]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Hospitals must concentrate on maximising efficiency and getting the best possible services for patients from the budgets available to us. Regional Cost Containment Plans have been in place since the beginning of the year. These plans are continuously monitored and updated in the light of the emerging financial data.

In order to break even by year end the hospitals which are currently running a deficit must fully implement the list of measures set out in agreed cost containment plans, including full delivery of reductions in overtime and agency usage as well as procurement savings. The plans also include measures to ensure that hospital activity levels, which are running over target in many cases, are brought back in line with the National Service Plan targets. Activity over and above this level cannot be funded.

The HSE is continuing to work closely with the hospitals that are operating budget deficits to ensure that the service impact of cost containment is kept to a minimum and to ensure that patient safety remains at the core of all decision making.

As indicated in the HSE Service Plan 2012, activity reductions will vary from hospital to hospital depending on local circumstances. Hospitals with the greatest carry forward financial challenge will find it most difficult to maintain activity levels and some will require a high intensity management process which, in addition to managing significant clinical change, will also focus on targeted cost reductions and maximising income billing and collection.

These hospitals are also being assisted in correcting their deficits through the work of the Special Delivery Unit in my Department, which seeks to improve access to the emergency and elective care system.

Since it was established last year, the SDU has been working to unblock access to acute services by improving patient journeys through the system , through encouraging hospitals to better manage their use of bed days and staffing resources and by streamlining waiting lists, including GP referrals.