HSE contract with private hospitals should be cancelled – Cahill

Fianna Fáil TD for Tipperary Jackie Cahill says the HSE contract with the private hospitals, which was set up to increase capacity during the Covid-19 pandemic, should not be renewed at the end of the month.

He wants to see the money - €115m a month - put towards the National Treatment Purchase Fund to reduce hospital waiting lists.

Deputy Cahill explained, “When the private hospital contract was signed back in March it was on the basis that these hospitals would provide additional capacity in the event of a surge in COVID-19 cases across the hospital network.  Two months on, and that happened, and instead we have empty beds, theatres and diagnostics units in our private hospitals lying idle.

“When it became apparent that capacity was no longer an issue, it was suggested that the private hospitals could be used for non-Covid cases in order to tackle our growing waiting lists.  This has not been realised.

“If the current contract between the HSE and the private hospitals was cancelled, it would release €115m a month back into the system.  People with heart complications, possible cancer referrals and those with deteriorating eyesight don’t have time on their side.  As it currently stands, that money is paying for empty beds, shut doctors’ rooms, dark operating theatres and unused diagnostic equipment. It really is the worst of both worlds.

“Only this week, the NTPF released the latest figures for Tipperary, which revealed huge increases in the number of people waiting for in-patient and day case procedures at Nenagh and South Tipperary General Hospital in the last two months.  Unless these are tackled, the numbers will continue to grow.

“The cancelation of the private hospital contract could be used to reduce these waiting lists and a decision needs to be made as a matter of urgency”, concluded Deputy Cahill.