Health authority wants $320M from Budget

THE North West Regional Health Authority (NWRHA) is seeking $320 million from the Health Ministry’s budgetary allocation to run its operations for 2003-2004.

Last year, the NWRHA sought to get approximately $300 million but did not get this full sum. Chairman of the NWRHA, Dr Patrick Watson, yesterday said about 85 percent of the money received will be spent on recurrent expenditure — salaries and general maintenance. He said the increase this year is the result of salary increases and outstanding increments owed to workers. Watson said the NWRHA can justify everything it is seeking funding for and expressed confidence that assistance will be provided by the Ministry for any “extras.” Questioned about the $5 million from the Hospital Maintenance Fund which Health Minister Colm Imbert said will be used to refurbish the Maternity Department of the PoSGH, Watson said he was not sure if the money was NWRHA controlled funds or money “existing before the RHA came into being.” He said the NWRHA has a general maintenance fund.