"The unpublished internal report which came to light in early summer and was first revealed in the Sunday Times revealed that taxpayer-funded top-up money from the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) was inappropriately used by a consultant who carried out clinics. In June the HSE told the Irish Independent that HSE officials confirmed they were to meet with gardaí after referring the internal Children's Health Ireland (CHI) report highlighting potential abuse of waiting list funds for possible criminal investigation."
"The NTPF said it paid CHI, which oversees the three Dublin children's hospitals, €1.8m in 2021 for insourcing additional clinics, surgeries and procedures - carried out within the hospitals - to reduce waiting lists. The hospital decides the manner in which the money is shared out, with overtime payments to consultants and staff, along with other costs."
A Garda spokesperson said no action will be undertaken by An Garda Síochána. An unpublished internal CHI report revealed taxpayer-funded top-up money from the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) was inappropriately used by a consultant running clinics. HSE officials confirmed they were to meet with gardaí after referring the CHI report for possible criminal investigation and indicated some matters will be referred to the Medical Council. The 2021 report found procedures for weekend clinics were not followed by one consultant, who earned over €34,000 in additional fees. Some children on long waiting lists faced risks of infertility and cancer. The NTPF paid CHI €1.8m in 2021 and temporarily paused insourcing funding.
Read at Irish Independent
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