Health spending priorities revealed

IN THE face of widespread cutbacks, the Department of Health argued that priority must be given to the National Children’s Hospital, the replacement of the Central Mental Hospital, the national plan for radiation oncology, an expanded programme of primary care centres and other mental health facilities

This is set out in background papers to the capital review, published last night, by the Department of Public Expenditure.

Minister for Health James Reilly wanted to see “demonstrable evidence” in the outcome of the recent review of State infrastructural spending that the commitment in the programme for government that health capital spending would be a priority was being maintained.

The documents show the Department of Health argued that investment in capital projects in the health service generated more employment than spending in other areas.

The department said failure to invest in information technology over the next five years “would undermine the delivery of the Government’s entire health reform programme”.

The submission maintained that the clinical need for the new National Children’s Hospital in Dublin had been clearly established.

It said that continuing with the project would remove the need for otherwise unavoidable capital investment in the current Temple Street and Crumlin hospitals for children.

It said this would deliver ongoing cost savings of €25 million per year from 2016.

The submission highlighted that the Minister believed the replacement of the Central Mental Hospital was a very high priority.

The submission said that the existing facility in Dundrum “is simply no longer an appropriate place for treating and caring for patients with mental illness”.