Second hospital has NTPF waiting list funding suspended over ‘potential financial irregularities'
The
National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF)
has suspended funding for initiatives aimed at tackling waiting lists in another public hospital on foot of 'potential financial irregularities'.
The NTPF said today that it had alerted Minister for Health
Jennifer Carroll MacNeill
and the
HSE.
The identity of the hospital concerned has not been disclosed.
The NTPF pays for patients on waiting lists to receive treatment in both the public and private system.
READ MORE
In public hospitals it pays for patients who are waiting longest to receive treatment outside core working hours – at night-time or at weekends – with staff paid additional money to carry out work in their own time.
This practice is known as 'insourcing'.
Last week the NTPF said it had
suspended funding for insourcing
at facilities operated by the Children's Health Ireland (CHI). CHI runs the three paediatric hospitals in Dublin.
In a statement today the organisation said it had alerted the Department of Health and HSE a number of weeks ago 'about potential financial irregularities in relation to NTPF-funded insourcing work at another public hospital'. It said it had suspended all insourcing work with that hospital since April 11th.
It said it 'immediately informed the department and HSE of these concerns and is working with them in relation to the ongoing review. The matter has been referred to the HSE's Internal Audit team. The NTPF is restricted from making further comment at this stage.'
Last week the NTPF said it had suspended funding following concerns raised in an internal CHI audit originally drawn up in 2022 but which was not published or shared elsewhere at the time.
This internal report raised questioned over whether a series of five special clinics run by a consultant at CHI over a number of Saturdays for patients on waiting lists were needed and whether the children concerned could have been treated using capacity already in the public hospitals system.
The consultant concerned had been paid €35,800 by the NTPF.
The NTPF said on Wednesday that following a meeting of its board that funding is to be restored immediately for insourcing arrangements at CHI hospitals.
It said this followed assurances provided by CHI in relation to its ongoing compliance with existing NTPF protocols and procedures.
The NTPF said it 'will now increase governance and oversight across its insourcing work with public hospitals, who up to now have been responsible for this internal governance. The NTPF has notified the Department of Health and HSE of this decision.'
Its chief executive Fiona Brady said: 'The board and executive of the NTPF take their responsibilities very seriously and will take whatever actions are necessary to ensure our spend with public hospitals is fully protected for the benefit of public patients. Any proven misuse of public money by public institutions will be treated with the gravity it deserves'.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Extra.ie
12 hours ago
- Extra.ie
Urgent health warning to Irish holidaymakers this summer
The Health Service Executive (HSE) has issued a new travel health warning for Irish citizens planning trips abroad this summer. The advisory comes in response to a recent surge in reported cases of measles in several popular holiday destinations. These locations include a number of European cities as well as USA, Canada, Vietnam, Cambodia and the Philippines. The Health Service Executive (HSE) has issued a new travel health warning for Irish citizens planning trips abroad this summer. Pic: Getty Images The HSE is urging travellers to take extra precautions, including checking vaccination requirements and staying informed about local health risks before and during their travels. In a statement released this week, the Health Service wrote: 'The HSE is concerned that measles outbreaks may occur in Ireland this summer as families with unvaccinated children and adults travel to countries where measles cases have been reported. 'The best way to protect you and your family against measles is to ensure all family members are up to date with the recommended doses of MMR vaccine before travelling abroad.' The advisory comes in response to a recent surge in reported cases of measles in several popular holiday destinations. Pic: Shutterstock The MMR vaccine is available free of charge at your GP for individuals born on or after January 1st 1978 who are not 'age-appropriately vaccinated.' Also, infants aged 6 months to under 12 months are eligible to receive an MMR vaccine, free of charge with their GP, prior to travel abroad. It is recommended to receive the vaccine at least 14 days prior to travel. These locations include a number of European cities as well as USA, Canada, Vietnam, Cambodia and the Philippines. Pic: Shutterstock Sharing further concerns, they added: 'Measles is one of the most highly infectious diseases and spreads rapidly among individuals who are unvaccinated. Measles cases continue to be reported in most European countries, with large outbreaks reported in some countries in 2025. In the latest measles report from ECDC the highest number of cases were reported in: France Spain Romania Netherlands Belgium 'Large numbers of cases have also been reported in the USA, Canada and some countries in Asia – including Vietnam, Cambodia and the Philippines.' More information is available here.
Sunday World
13 hours ago
- Sunday World
Urgent warning to Irish holidaymakers about measles outbreaks in European countries
France, Spain, Romania and the Netherlands have all seen outbreaks as well the US, Canada, Vietnam, Cambodia and the Philippines. Irish families heading to European holiday destinations this summer have been warned of large measles outbreaks. France, Spain, Romania and the Netherlands have all seen outbreaks as well the US, Canada, Vietnam, Cambodia and the Philippines. The Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HSPC) said the HSE is concerned that measles outbreaks may occur in Ireland this summer as families with unvaccinated children and adults travel to countries where measles cases have been reported. Cases rose last year, with several outbreaks, and around 16 have been reported in the last 12 weeks. Last year, Europe had the highest level of measles in 25 years, with 127,000 cases reported, the most since 1997. The HSPC said the 'best way to protect you and your family against measles is to ensure all family members are up to date with the recommended doses of MMR vaccine before travelling abroad'. It is recommended that individuals receive MMR vaccine at least 14 days prior to travel 'MMR vaccine is available free of charge at your GP for individuals born on or after January 1, 1978 who are not age-appropriately vaccinated,' it said. 'In addition, infants aged six months to under 12 months are eligible to receive an MMR vaccine, free of charge at their GP, prior to travel abroad. 'It is recommended that individuals receive MMR vaccine at least 14 days prior to travel.' It pointed out that measles 'is one of the most highly infectious diseases and spreads rapidly among individuals who are unvaccinated'. 'Measles cases continue to be reported in most European countries, with large outbreaks reported in some countries in 2025,' it added. It advised that 'the best way to protect yourself and those around you against measles is to ensure you and your family members are age-appropriately vaccinated with MMR vaccine'. 'HSE recommends that all people who are eligible for MMR vaccination should be vaccinated, regardless of whether planning on travel abroad or not.' It said that children receive the MMR vaccine as part of their routine childhood vaccines at 12 months of age from their GP. Measles symptoms are typically fever, cough and a runny nose, with a rash that develops a few days later. It can lead to serious complications in some cases such as sepsis, pneumonia and swelling of the brain, which can cause long-term disability and even death. Two doses of MMR vaccine can lead to 99pc protection, but uptake is still too low in some areas.
Sunday World
13 hours ago
- Sunday World
Tanning salon hit with €2,600 fine for selling sun-bed session to 15-year-old girl
In the case before Ennis District Court, Judge Alec Gabbett imposed a fine of €1,000 and costs of €1,600 on Shannon based sun-bed business, Solcraft Ltd for selling a sun-bed session to a 15 year old girl at its sun-bed premises, Cosmopoli Tan in Shannon last November. Frequent sunbed use is known to increase skin cancer risk. Photo: Getty A judge, who has stated that it is a pity that there is not a ban on sun-bed operators facilitating sun-bed sessions for adults, has imposed a €2,600 penalty on a sun-bed business selling a sun-bed session to a minor. In the case before Ennis District Court, Judge Alec Gabbett imposed a fine of €1,000 and costs of €1,600 on Shannon based sun-bed business, Solcraft Ltd for selling a sun-bed session to a 15 year old girl at its sun-bed premises, Cosmopoli Tan in Shannon last November. The Health Service Executive (HSE) brought the rare prosecution under Section 4 of the Public Health (Sunbeds) Act 2014 after a 15 year old 'secret shopper' was deployed by the HSE to do a test purchase at Cosmopoli Tan at Unit 7, Block E, Bru Na Sionna, Shannon on November 26th 2024. Solicitor for the HSE, Barry Kelleher of of Comyn Kelleher Tobin solicitors told the court on Friday that on the date 'a 15 year old child attended at the salon and approached the counter and asked for use of sun-bed session' Mr Kelleher said that 'the child asked for three minutes of time and she was told that she could get four minutes for the price of three'. Mr Kelleher said that the child 'was never asked for her age or ID'. He said that the firm has no previous convictions. He said that the transaction took place and the child left the premises. Solicitor for the firm, John Casey said that the business has a number of notices placed across its premises saying 'No ID, no sunbed' and similar notices. Frequent sunbed use is known to increase skin cancer risk. Photo: Getty News in 90 Seconds - June 21st Mr Kelleher said that that there was a further inspection of the premises in April of this year as there was a report of underage sale continuing. Mr Casey said that on that date the company was found to be in compliance. Mr Kelleher said the test purchasers deployed by the HSE don't actually take the sun-bed sessions. Judge Gabbett said: 'You would need danger money to do that.' Mr Kelleher told the court that people aged under 35 who undergo sun-bed sessions increase their risk of contracting melanoma by 75pc. Judge Gabbett said that 'children should not in these premises - that is very straightforward' Judge Gabbett said that he was imposing the €1,000 fine as a deterrent to ensure compliance. When the case first came to court last month, Judge Gabbett remarked that it is a good thing that children are banned from having sun-bed sessions stating 'it is a pity that this doesn't apply to adults as well." Asked on the level of enforcement activity under the Public Health (Sunbeds) Act, a spokesman for the HSE said last month: 'In 2024, ten fixed payment notices were served and four prosecutions taken by the National Environmental Health Service under the Public Health (Sunbeds) Act 2014. He said: 'Two of the prosecutions were for sales to minors and both were upheld by the court.' He added: "In 2023, seventeen fixed payment notices were served, and four prosecutions taken by the National Environmental Health Service (NEHS) under the Public Health (Sunbeds) Act 2014. Two of the prosecutions were for sales to minors and one was upheld by the Court.
