Kenny rages at HSE admission of €50m contracts "cock-up"

[White Horse]

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny has expressed anger at the revelation that taxpayers may have to fork out €50m this year because of a glitch in consultants' contracts.
HSE chief executive Brendan Drumm told the Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee that the HSE may be left with the bill when private patients are referred to hospitals by certain consultants.
He said the problem was not foreseen during negotiations on new contracts for consultants, but the HSE was working to fix the situation.
Mr Kenny has described the revelation as scandalous and says taxpayers will have to pay for another cock-up by the HSE.
Kenny angered by HSE revelation on contracts - Politics, National News - Independent.ie

How much is Brendan Drumm's bonus? Given the mess he presides over how can it be justified. Today's revelations are just one in a series of revelations of financial incompetance.

One wonders of the wastage we don't know about.

[feet first]

There is no reason why this type of mismanagment will not continue , unless people walk, yes that means are sacked..
Last year hundreds had court appearances for non payment of tv licences
So who accounts for a 50 million steal

[DCon]

Nobody is accountable

That is the genius of what bertie set up when he created the HSE

[adamirer]

e-voting in one foul mistake. It was explained very well on Keanes newstalk show. Amazinng. Worse, it was pointed out to the HSE during negotiations and they acknowledged it but still didnt see the knock on consequences.

[uriah]

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny has expressed anger at the revelation that taxpayers may have to fork out €50m this year because of a glitch in consultants' contracts.
HSE chief executive Brendan Drumm told the Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee that the HSE may be left with the bill when private patients are referred to hospitals by certain consultants.
He said the problem was not foreseen during negotiations on new contracts for consultants, but the HSE was working to fix the situation.
Mr Kenny has described the revelation as scandalous and says taxpayers will have to pay for another cock-up by the HSE.
Kenny angered by HSE revelation on contracts - Politics, National News - Independent.ie

How much is Brendan Drumm's bonus? Given the mess he presides over how can it be justified. Today's revelations are just one in a series of revelations of financial incompetance.

One wonders of the wastage we don't know about.

Wasn't there another costly error (clerical)in the payment of barristers in tribunal which cost the state around €1million?

[drzhivago]

I think there is a little misinformation going on here

Am surprised that those at the top dont understand the scenario

5 Years ago Patient comes to hospital X
Admitted
Chooses to be private patient
Consultant gets additional money
Hospital gets additional money from insurance company

NOW CONSULTANT WITH TYPE A (NO private practice) CONTRACT
Patient gets admitted
HAs private health insurance
Chooses to go private
CONSULTANT NOT ALLOWED TO CHARGE
Hospital eligible to get money from insurance company but normally only do so when the doctor fills in a claim form, here doctor wont be filling in the form as they are not getting paid

hence hospital loses money
Unless the HSE are proposing to pay the hospital;s for lost revenue I dont see where the €50 million comes into this

IT IS NOT FOR DOCTORS

Overall with this public only contract it will save insurance companies a lot of money because there will be effectively little benefit for patients choosing to be private in a public hospital

[ivicia]

There has been a lot of talk about this for a while and I think it will have to be adressed.

The VHI have indicated that they won't pay the hospital any fees for patients teated by a consultant holding a type A contract.

I'm sure they can enact legisaltion which states that the patient can choose to be private to the hospital and public to the consultant if he's a TYPE A.

Off topic - the consultants are getting the new rates - they have to have them before the end of this month.

[anewbeginning]

Surely the solution is quite simple.

They go back and renegotiate the contract and get this loophole removed.

Why have a government when it seems to have absolutely no power over anything.

[pinkdolphin]

This issue was very strongly highlighted at all times but the HSE and DOHC negotiating teams were adamant that the greater good was served by having consultants on Public only contracts- so they signed up to knowing this would happen

[John_C]

If 50 million removes the distinction between public and private patients it's money well spent.