Hospitals already in red for 2012

A number of major Dublin hospitals are facing further cutbacks in 2012 as a result of carrying over their 2011 deficits into next year, according to Health Minister James Reilly.

He revealed that four hospitals face carrying over deficits totalling €23 million into 2012 even before they get their allocaitons for next year and try to plan their services accordingly.

The Minister told the Dail that Tallaght Hospital carried an accumulated deficit of around €22 million into the current year and is projecting a deficit of €11 million for 2011.

He said Tallaght had implemented cost-containment measures that had seen it break even in each of the past three months and projecting to break even each month to year end.

The Minister said while Tallaght would begin 2012 in an improved financial situation, it will have to deal with its accumulated deficit in the future within its overall financial resources.

Dr Reilly said St Vincent's carried a €1 million accumulated deficit into the current year and was projecting an overspend of €7 million for 2011. He said St Vincent's was considering cost-containment plans in order to deal with its carrying deficit.

The Mater Hospital carried an accumulated deficit of €1.86 million into the current year and is projecting a deficit of €2 million for the current year. It would also carry this deficit into 2012 and would have to deal with it within its overall resources, the Minister said.

Beaumont Hospital carried a deficit of €340,000 into the current year and will be €3 in the red at the end of the year. It will carry this deficit into 2012.

However, St James's Hospital will break even this year and it will commence 2012 without a carried-over deficit.

The Minister said any deficit accrued by a HSE-run hospital must be funded by a surplus elsewhere.

However, voluntary hospitals deficits were a matter for the hospitals themselves to deal with and not the State, Dr Reilly said.

The Minister was responding to PQs from Socialist Party TD for North Dublin, Clare Daly.

[Posted: Fri 25/11/2011]