Hopefully consumables will save us there. There isn't much that...

Hopefully consumables will save us there. There isn't much that can be done about them excepting carrying lower inventory which is only a short term problem. The same goes for many capital purchases, you can turn off the tap for so long, but then you need to catch up. It happens with the mines all the time. Some of the purchases will be due to an expanding customer base. The private system must be seen to provide a better quality of stay to the public so the quality of the equipment the patient comes into contact with must be maintained. These are probably not the big expense items when your running a hospital. One orderly would cost as much per year as 15 or so beds.