Harney tells HSE of MRSA concerns

Minister for Health Mary Harney has told the board of the Health Service Executive that she wants to see measures to tackle hospital-acquired infections such as MRSA considered as a priority this year.

In her official letter to HSE chairman Liam Downey setting out funding and priorities for 2007, she said hospital-acquired infections were causing much anxiety to patients and their families.

"I urge you to ensure that every effort is made to minimise the impact of such infections on patients," Ms Harney said.

The Minister also told the board there must be no more unauthorised overuns in staff numbers and that it should give a high priority to securing value for money in the way its spends its €11 billion budget this year.

Ms Harney also confirmed that the board would receive €75 million in development funding for the hospital sector this year, which will include €35 million to open new facilities around the country and €12.5 million for the Government's new cancer blueprint.

Some of this funding had already been announced in the Government spending estimates in November.

The rate of hospital-acquired infections have been an issue of major controversy in recent times.

International research, published in October, showed that one in every 20 patients in Irish hospitals at any given time has a hospital-associated infection. The study found that the bug 10 per cent of these patients have picked up is MRSA.

In her letter, Ms Harney also expressed "disappointment" that the HSE's financial estimates were still largely based on the old health board structure.

She also said that there was a need for greater transparency in the way the HSE presented its financial estimates to the Oireachtas and for more relevant reporting of expenditure.

Ms Harney also urged that greater efforts be made to secure value for money.

"It is also important that a vigorous management approach be brought to bear on the very large core funding of the executive," she said.

Ms Harney said the HSE board was also required to ensure strict compliance with Government policy on controlling the numbers employed.

Recent figures suggested that there were nearly 105,000 people employed in the health service - about 7,000 more than officially allowed under the Government's employment ceiling. "The board will be required to provide, on an on-going basis, demonstrable evidence of its willingness and ability to implement effective arrangements for the management of employment levels.

"In particular, the board must ensure that there are no more unauthorised overruns, that staff costs are controlled and managed to best effect, that an appropriate balance is achieved between clinical and non-clinical posts, that there is a better skill mix within the clinical areas and that staffing levels provide cost effective and safe/quality care to patients," the Minister said.