Funds freeze to hit health boards

CASH-STRAPPED health boards which are struggling to make ends meet will not be getting additional funds in the new year.

As all nine health boards work on their end-of-year financial statements, more than ever they are expected to end up edging into the red.

But the Department of Health has warned that heath boards have to work within their existing funding allocation and that there'll be nothing extra in the kitty next year.

Provision will have to be made within their budgets for unforeseen expenses and there will be no extra cash in 2003.

A check of health boards nationwide shows that while they do hope to break even, others are carrying debts of over €3m into the final months of this year.

Jobs in many health board areas have already been frozen, long-awaited improvements have been delayed and it is not clear where further cuts can be made to balance the books.

South Eastern Health Board chief executive, Pat McLoughlin, has already warned that his board needs more money if it is to continue to operate at its current level.

It is €2.715m in the red, its latest financial statement from the end of October shows.

Additional expenses incurred through child immunisation, childcare and the €300,000 bill from the winter vomiting bug have put additional strain on its already dented coffers.

"The financial implications for the board of additional and unforeseen costs, and the underlying core deficits, will continue to present difficulties in 2003 unless additional funding is made available," he said.

The Midlands Health Board is €3.46m in the red heading towards Christmas. But a health board spokesperson said the figure related to the end of September and represented just 1.4% of its overall budget.

The Mid Western Health Board, meanwhile, expects to break even. The Southern Health Board had a deficit of over €6.6m at the end of October but also hopes to break even.

"Prudent financial management continues to be exercised and a material year-end over-run is not expected," said chief executive Sean Hurley.

The East Coast Area Health Board said its budgetary position will be tight. But it hopes to be within target. It admitted there may be a minor over-spend.