Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

To ask the Minister for Health if he has had any contact with the Board of Tallaght Hospital, Dublin 24, regarding the challenging budgetary situation at the hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55595/12]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I can confirm that officials from my Department attended a meeting with Tallaght Hospital in June in the context of providing secretarial support for the Review of Financial Management Systems in the Irish Health Service, more commonly known as the Ogden review. At the meeting a presentation was made in relation to Tallaght's performance to date covering various topics including activity, waiting list and the financial position.

On 29 August, the CEO of Tallaght wrote to the Department outlining the financial position. Subsequently on 6 September, there was a meeting with the HSE and Tallaght, including the Chairman of the Board of Tallaght, at which the Department was represented. A presentation was made by the Director of Finance, Tallaght regarding the financial position.

Tallaght, like every other hospital is facing significant financial challenges. The HSE has had regular ongoing engagement with the hospital with a view to ensuring that the hospital continues to deliver its 2012 service plan commitments in addition to maximising the considerable financial resources at its disposal.

Tallaght hospital has achieved significant operational savings in 2012 and has reduced its year-on-year spending by 6%, despite a 5% increase in inpatient numbers, a 6% increase in Emergency Department admissions and a 9% reduction in its 2012 allocation. Tallaght has achieved HSE targets for reductions in agency and overtime costs and its absenteeism is consistently lower than the HSE national target. It has also considerably reduced the average length of stay times and ED, inpatient and day case waiting times as well as practically eliminating hospital trolleys.

The hospital’s staff has displayed great commitment to improving its performance and I am confident that this commitment will greatly assist in addressing Tallaght's current financial difficulties.