Sir, – The secretary general of the Department of Health, Ambrose McLoughlin, responding to several letters from the then CEO of the HSE, Cathal Magee, dating from March through June of this year, warning of the serious and increasing deficit in the HSE budget, is quoted as informing Mr Magee in June: “I would remind you that, as CEO, you have responsibility and accountability for delivering the national service plan as approved by the Minister” (Martin Wall, Front Page, August 2nd).
I don’t know of any CEO who can execute a service plan when the financial side of this is based on a flawed cash flow/expenditure forecast. Figures included in this plan for projected savings from cost cuts in drugs never materialised, nor was legislation to to generate additional funds from health insurers enacted. To cap this off the actual costs, on what was obviously an ill thought-out redundancy drive, were significantly higher than forecast.
These failings, coupled with the non-action reaction to Mr Magee’s early warnings, certainly makes clear to me why Mr Magee declined to be involved with the revamping of the health service
May I in conclusion remind Mr McLoughlin that, the ultimate responsibility for the performance of Ireland’s health service lies with his own department, his Minister James Reilly, and the current Government. Judging by the seemingly continual “passing of many bucks”, this fact seems to have escaped – and continues to escape – many of those in positions of authority within this service. – Yours, etc,