Millions spent on health service assessments

SINCE July 1997, the Department of Health has commissioned a minimum of 121 reports/working groups/review groups/expert groups to assess areas of the health service.

Costs up to April this year and including just 52 of the 121 activities listed had amounted to €8.4 million.

The disclosures come during a week in which toddler Roisín Ruddle from Kilfinny, Ballingarry, Co Limerick, died after a scheduled heart operation was cancelled as relatively inexpensive post-operative care was not available.