Register notes ‘red risk’ for financial targets

The most recent HSE corporate risk register (CRR) has noted a high “risk” to delivering the Executive’s corporate and service plans if “national and local financial targets” are not achieved.

The issue of health service funding was raised recently at the joint Oireachtas committee on health when HSE Chief Executive Mr Bernard Gloster told members that the Executive faced a cash deficit “somewhere in the region” of €1.1 billion for 2023.

There were 21 risks outlined in the most recent HSE CRR, the majority of which have a ‘red’, or high-risk, rating.   

Risk 13 of the CRR on “internal controls and financial management” is labelled ‘red’.

In addition to the risk associated by the failure to achieve financial targets, corporate and service plan delivery may also be adversely affected by the increasing costs related to state indemnity.

Also under risk 13, the CRR refers to the potential “inability to deliver planned activity within budget determination from funders” and “the non-adherence to financial and other related organisational controls”, among other factors.

The CRR noted that this risk is “compounded due to uncertainties relating to the wider macro-economic environment ”.

The quarter two version of the CRR, seen by the Medical Independent, was approved by the HSE executive management team on 8 August 2023.