IrishMedicalNews

HSE to audit sample of consultants’ activity figures

Written by Lloyd Mudiwa Monday, 08 February 2010 14:25

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The HSE has said that it will initially audit the results in a sample of hospitals of the ratio of private/public clinical activity reported in public hospitals over the April 2009 to June 2009 period.

IMN previously revealed that the results in a recent HSE report, showing that approximately three-in-10 consultants working in public hospitals are treating more private patients than permitted under their new contract, were not audited.

A spokesperson for the HSE last week told IMN that while the planned audit is arranged, it has not taken place as yet.

“The initial focus is on a sample of six hospitals, following which a decision will be made to extend to all hospitals,” the spokesperson commented.

The HSE had initially indicated it would conduct a hospital-by-hospital audit of the public/private patient ratio under the Consultant Contract 2008 in all the hospitals whose figures were reported for the period under consideration.

The results of clinic activity (adjusted for casemix) for the period show that in St John’s Hospital in Limerick, not a single consultant complied with the restriction when treating inpatients, although 20 per cent were 10 per cent within achieving compliance.

Only six hospitals; Bantry, Roscommon County, Naas General, and Tallaght, St Michael’s, and St Colmcilles, all in Dublin, achieved full compliance for both inpatient and daycase patients, according to the unaudited figures.