HSE: No bailouts after overspends
Only one of the four acute hospitals managed to stay within budget for the first four months of 2008.
And the Health Service Executive (HSE) has warned there will be no bailouts.
The Regional Orthopaedic Hospital in Croom spent €122,000 less than the €4.4 million allocated to it for that period. It was the only facility to work within its budget.
The Regional Maternity overspent its €6.07m for the first four months by a massive €966,000.
St John’s spent €8.8m, which was €339,000 more than it was allocated while the regions biggest hospital, the Mid-Western Regional, had an overspend of €232,000.
In a statement, the HSE said: “The overall budget for the acute hospitals network in the mid-west for 2008 amounts to €323.4m of which €25m is allocated to the Regional Maternity Hospital in Limerick. The maternity hospital faces significant challenges due to the increasing birth rate — over 5,000 yearly.
“No bailouts are expected so each hospital will have to balance any overruns by a reduction in expenditure.”
Meanwhile, the HSE it was not aware of any reason why absenteeism rates among clerical and support staff at the Mid-Western Regional Hospital were among the highest of nine acute hospitals examined.
And they warned of action against people suspected of abusing the sick leave system. Absenteeism, the HSE said, was a serious concern to health managers.
