Good results for the HSE?

Sir, – I was interested to note in your News in Numbers (October 24th) that the HSE deficit up to August of this year was €94 million with projected deficit for the entire year of €105 million. I presage that I may be against public perception in this matter, but I believe these figures are a good result for the HSE operating in a demand-led service environment.

To put it in context, the HSE budget for 2013 is approximately €13 billion, in layman’s terms €13,000 million. A projected deficit of €105 million for the year represents a .8 per cent budget overrun, or in further clearer terms an 80 cent overrun in a budget of €100. I would imagine that there are many large businesses in Ireland who would not be unhappy with an equivalent result for their financial year. I am not an avid HSE supporter but this result must also be viewed in the context of the demand-led business that the HSE is in. As opposed to some Government departments the HSE, at the commencement of any fiscal year, do not know in advance how many people will require, use or be entitled to their services.

In conclusion, maybe media commentators should instead of beating their breasts over a €105 million HSE budget overrun, put the overrun in the perspective of a demand-led service in financially challenging times. – Yours, etc,

JONATHON ROTH (Dr)

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Clancys Strand,

Limerick.