Surplus income at Clare hospital increased by 76%

CAHERCALLA Community Hospital and Hospice enjoyed a 76% increase in surplus of income over expenditure, according to the directors’ report for the financial year ending December 31, 2020, writes Dan Danaher.

This report reveals the surplus for 2020, after providing for depreciation, amounted to €184, 940, up from €104,208 in 2019.

The company, which is a not-for-profit organisation, has assets of €11,224,824, while its net assets have increased by €184,940.

The report stressed the safety of patients and staff during the Covid-19 pandemic remains the company’s highest priority.

“Wherever and whenever we can, we are actively supporting those who continue to have their lives changed or impacted by the virus, and those who are tirelessly and selflessly supporting the affected.

“We remain incredibly grateful for the extraordinary efforts that all of our people are making in ensuring business continuity and continued support to our staff and patients.”

“We have implemented appropriate contingency and business continuity plans in order to safeguard our business. We have implemented best practice precautionary and hygiene measures, including social distancing.”

The report outlined the serious steps taken by the management team to protect services and to preserve cash reflect the scale and uncertainty of the health crisis.

The directors have assessed the projected reduction in revenue and the consequent reduction in planned expenditure.

They have a reasonable expectation that the company has adequate resources to continue in “operational existence” for the foreseeable future.

This has led to a continuation of the going concern basis in preparing the annual financial statements.

During 2020, the company received a grant of €215,812 from Milford Care Centre to support the provision of five palliative care beds.

The associated expenditure in respect of these five beds was €275,950 leaving the balance of this expenditure to be covered by fundraising activities.

The income for 2020 was €5,653,313 minus expenditure of €5393,957, leaving a surplus before interest of €259,356.

When interest payable and similar expenses are deducted, this leaves a surplus of €74,416.

Income from hospital beds increased from €48,839,826 in 2019 €4,934,875 in 2020.

However, income from the canteen fell from €52,933 in 2019 to €19,747 in 2020.

This was offset by a dramatic increase in so-called miscellaneous income from €9,228 in 2019 to €267,893 in 2020. The Milford grant was the same at €215,813 in 2019 and 2020.

Church contributions fell from €4,363 in 2019 to €848 in 2020. There was also a drop in fundraising income from €303,775 in 2019 to €214,137 a year later.

There was a very slight reduction in staff from 130 in 2019 to 129 in 2020. The breakdown is as follows hospital, 101; administration, nine; kitchen, nine; cleaning, eight and maintenance, two.

Expenditure on wages and salaries grew from €405,582 in 2019 to €420,380 12 months later.

The main items of expenditure in 2020 were commercial rates €26,289; refuse charges €27,530; insurance €85,017; light and heat €124,456; buildings’ maintenance €46,697; plant and machinery maintenance €67,846; printing, postage and stationary €29,332; depreciation of tangible fixed assets €285,628; general expenses €11,143; professional fees €48,337; bank charges €4,532; bad debts €35,043 and write off old accruals €42,335.

The company operates a defined contribution pension scheme. The net assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the company in an independently-administered fund.

The company also operates a defined benefit pension scheme for its employees providing benefits based on final pensionable pay.

Cahercalla Community Hospital Company Limited By Guarantee was set up on Saturday the 1st of April 1995.

The company’s current directors Marie Slattery, Paul Madden, Denis O’Ceallaigh, William Cahir and Dr Michael Harty.

Fr Harry Bohan resigned as a director on November 25, 2020, while Patrick Enright resigned on July 1, 2020.