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Health Minister James Reilly today welcomed the publication of the HSE Service Plan 2012, following his approval of the Plan last Friday.

The Service Plan sets out the health and personal social services that will be delivered by the HSE within its current budget of €13.317bn. The total quantifiable cost reduction target in 2012 is €750m.

The Plan commits the HSE to minimising the impact of funding challenges on services by fast tracking new, innovative and more efficient ways of using reduced resources. It reflects the need to move to new models of care across all service areas which, as Dr. Reilly has stressed, must treat patients at the lowest level of complexity and provide quality services at the least possible cost. It also includes a commitment to addressing staffing levels, skill mix and staff attendance patterns/rosters within the context of the Public Service Agreement.

The Minister said:

The need for radical change in our health services has been apparent since the Celtic Tiger days of excess. The new financial reality in which the health system is operating means that there is a greater need than ever before to drive that change, innovate and implement efficiencies.

The level of service reduction will be less than the level of budget reduction as a result of efficiencies that will be delivered across all care group areas. For instance, while acute hospitals face an expenditure reduction of 7.8%, the further roll-out of the clinical care programmes and other measures to improve the efficiency of clinical care delivery will limit the reduction in patient activity to an average 3% against 2011 outturn. Hospitals will work closely with the Special Delivery Unit to ensure that, notwithstanding this reduction, nobody waits longer than 9 months for an elective procedure, thus ensuring equitable access for all.

The number employed in the health service will fall during 2012. The end 2012 employment ceiling is about 102,100- a reduction of 3,200 compared to the 2011 target.

The Minister said

The cumulative impact of staff reductions from this year and previous years, further increases the need for greater flexibilities in work practices and rosters as well as redeployment. Successful implementation of the Public Service Agreement will be crucial in bringing about these changes.

The Minister concluded:

It is imperative that a strong budgetary focus is put in place at all levels within the health service from the outset of this year. Prompt intervention will be required by budget holders to correct any emerging issues. Notwithstanding the need for adherence to budgets, it is imperative that HSE managers deliver quality services to patients in line with the performance indicators outlined in the Plan.

Read the full press release here.

Read the HSE National Service Plan 2012 here. (.pdf - 1125 KB)