Hospital €15m over budget

THE mid-west’s largest hospital is €15.2 million over budget so far this year.

The assistant national finance director in HSE West, Liam Minihan, yesterday described the figures as “shocking”.

Mr Minihan also said that “it will be extremely, extremely difficult” for the HSE West to break even this year, but added: “We cannot contemplate anything other than break even.”

Mr Minihan said the HSE financial situation improved for October but declined to provide the figures.

He also confirmed HSE West has sufficient cash for November, stating “We hope to have cash through to the end of December.”

He said the HSE has a plan to deal with any cash problems next month.

Mr Minihan claimed the figures showed the acute hospital network in the west was the main cause for the HSE West area being €47m in deficit for the first nine months. The acute hospital sector was €49m in deficit at the end of September.

“Limerick Regional Hospital has a huge problem on the income side and is probably one of the worst performers in the country I would say,” he said.

“We have this core €40m problem which is residing with the hospitals. In the context of planning for next year, we are going to have to decide what we are going to do about that.”

“Some fundamental decisions will have to be made. Hospitals will have to be reconfigured,” he added.

Mr Minihan confirmed the spend on agency staff will be 25% more than last year at €30m.