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.

Meanwhile, a final or interim report had been made in respect of 60 of the assessments. There were 16 headings where it specifically said a report was due. In virtually all the other headings, it said ‘work ongoing’ or ‘no report to date’ or ‘no report expected’.

The list, obtained by the Labour Party, made no reference to either the Brennan report or the Prospectus report.

The biggest cumulative spend listed, €1.095m, has been on annual reports by the National Suicide Review Group since it was established in 1998. Other costly reports include:

* National Task Force on Medical Staffing. €498,374. Established February 2002. Expected to report shortly.

* Commission on Nursing. €736,887.27. Established March 1997. First report July 1998.

* National Health and Lifestyle Survey Steering Committee. €978,451. Established October 1997. Two reports, June 1999 and April 2003.

* Social Personal Health Education Advisory Group. €510,914. Established Sept 2002. No report.

* Strategic Options for the VHI. €553,493. Established January 2001. Final report April 2002.