The millennium bug could cost health boards up to £50 million to replace medical equipment and other hospital computer systems in a "worst case scenario", members of the Southern Health Board have been told.
According to SHB management services officer, Mr Jack Somers, the Department of Health has advised the Department of Finance it should be prepared to set aside £50 million to replace equipment which may be made obsolete by the millennium bug.
Mr Somers explained that the millennium bug or Y2K - the inability of computers to deal with the year 2000 - would affect three broad areas of hospital operations - medical devices, computer information systems and general hospital systems.
Computer information systems include financial systems and patient management systems, while general hospital systems include those used for environmental control, fire detection, lighting security and patient transportation.
The SHB is attempting to establish if all existing systems and equipment are contractually covered to deal with the millennium bug. Those that are not covered will have to be tested to see what effect it will have on them.
"It's quite difficult to know the full impact at this stage, but you have to assume a worst case scenario - it may require replacement of large pieces of equipment such as X-rays and CTs, but alternatively they may work well but put out the wrong date."
The SHB is currently compiling an inventory of all medical devices which may be affected by the millennium bug including those which pose a high risk for patients if they fail such as life support, resuscitation and critical monitoring equipment.
The board is hoping for funding from the Department of Health of around £100,000 to allow it to carry out tests on the 3,000 pieces of medical equipment it has in its hospitals in Cork and Kerry and document the results.
Meanwhile, Mr Somers confirmed to SHB member, Dr Cathal Bredin, that the board is insisting that all new equipment being supplied to the board is Y2K compliant.