Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 June 2025
911. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the date on which her Department was alerted to potential financial irregularities in relation to National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) funded insourcing work at another public hospital, separate to Children’s Health Ireland; if she will identify which hospital the NTPF has suspended all insourcing work with since 11 April 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32699/25]
View answerThis Government remains committed to increasing capacity in the public system and until that capacity is in place to meet the increased levels of demand, it’s appropriate that we make use of all available additional capacity in the public and private systems to ensure that patients have access to the care they need.
Accordingly, the Waiting List Action Plan which I published on February 12th, includes targeting the delivery of additional capacity for patients in the public and private systems, through a coordinated approach by the HSE and the National Treatment Purchase Fund.
NTPF Insourcing initiatives are governed by a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the NTPF and the relevant public hospital. Under the MOU, the public hospital confirms that any such work is additional work over and above core hospital activity and is specifically carried out to reduce waiting lists. All governance for insourcing remains with the public hospital, based on specific treatment plans where a need is identified and a solution available. All work is approved at the appropriate senior level.
On the evening of Friday, 11th April, the Department was advised by the NTPF that there was an issue in relation to NTPF funded initiatives at Beaumont Hospital. All insourcing initiatives were suspended at the hospital and the matter has been referred to HSE Internal Audit who are undertaking a full review of the matters raised. The results of this audit are expected shortly.
In early April at my request, the HSE CEO initiated a detailed survey of all insourcing activity within the HSE, which will be assisted by Finance, Internal Audit, HR and Access/Integration functions. Insourcing can be funded either directly by the HSE/hospital concerned, or by the NTPF. The outcome of this review is expected shortly.
