Hospital budgets cut by €9.37m over inefficiencies

MORE than 20 hospitals have had their budgets slashed by a total of €9.37 million as a result of inefficiencies in 2004.

The biggest losers were Mayo General Hospital, which has been fined €1.24m, and Our Lady’s Hospital, Navan, which has seen its 2006 budget cut by €1.06m. General Manager at Mayo General Mr Tony Canavan said the result was disappointing but predictable. “Many of the costs associated with the new orthopaedic service, including equipping and staffing, hit the budget at MGH that year (2004). However, the associated inpatient activity didn’t really commence until 2005.”

Mr Canavan said the fine “will not impact negatively on any of our planned service developments in 2006.”