Martin's hospital budgets cuts 'will deepen crisis'

THE majority of Dublin hospitals, heavily fined for failing to perform within budget, declined to comment yesterday on the penalties.

As Fine Gael criticised the mechanism used for assessing hospital efficiency, the Western Health Board said a €2.6 million boost will be used to improve hospital services.

Since the introduction of the performance-related casemix scheme four years ago, the Galway-based University College Hospital and Merlin Park Regional Hospital are the most efficient group in Ireland.

"This is a reflection of the dedication and professionalism of staff working in Galway regional hospitals," said a health board spokesperson. "It was achieved by the two regionals treating a larger number of patients in proportion to their budget allocation."

Fine Gael's Olivia Mitchell insisted the criteria used to reward hospitals was unfair and unbalanced.

The Dublin TD said the results of the casemix scheme confirmed Health Minister Micheál Martin's lack of understanding of the pressures faced by major hospitals. "Where is the logic in rewarding hospitals that effectively reduce the volume of their workload by closing beds, and penalising hospitals working under continuous pressures, many of which are beyond their control, such as St Vincent's?" she said.

St Vincent's Hospital's budget will lessen in 2004 by €1.2m. The hospital declined to comment yesterday.

However, Ms Mitchell declared: "Is this Mr Martin's definition of a patient-centred service? The budgetary cuts for hospitals struggling to treat patients will only deepen the crisis already prevalent in many hospitals."

The 300-plus Letterkenny General Hospital, which will benefit from an additional €1m, conceded yesterday that its performance was overshadowed by a continuing A&E crisis. Earlier this week, overcrowding at the hospital led to the Irish Nurses Organisation demanding government sanction for 29 beds and the lifting of an employment ceiling on staff.

The INO's industrial relations officer Noel Treanor warned: "The bed situation in Letterkenny impacts on those awaiting beds and on waiting times in the department. It puts excessive pressure on staff. &This situation is intolerable in the short term, but unbearable in the long term."

As a result of the casemix 2002 data James Connolly Memorial Hospital, Blanchardstown will have an overall downward adjustment of just over €1m in its 2004 budget.

"Management at the hospital will ensure in so far as possible through a range of efficiencies and cost containment that this adjustment will not impact on direct patient services," a spokesperson said.