Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

882. To ask the Minister for Health if CHI have used National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) money to pay orthopaedic consultants at rates above the standard approved fees or during their contracted public working hours; if any CHI consultants were effectively double-paid that is, receiving their normal salary plus NTPF-funded fees for treating public patients, contrary to the intent that NTPF work be done in out-of-hours clinics; if any such individually negotiated pay arrangements occurred; if so, the details and justification; if any such arrangements were approved with the NTPF and HSE in advance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34329/25]

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

883. To ask the Minister for Health if those who approved arrangements (details supplied) ensured that all such work was done strictly on overtime with no clash with consultants' public duties; if all payments to consultants for these sessions processed transparently via CHI payroll in line with NTPF's rule against direct pay to consultants; who in CHI management signed off on these arrangements; if any insourcing deviated from these guidelines, if so, the reason; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34330/25]

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

884. To ask the Minister for Health the internal processes that CHI have had in place from 2019 onward to oversee the use of NTPF funds and special waiting-list initiatives; if the CHI executive or board were required to sign off on decisions to use NTPF money for private or insourced clinics; If so, if those protocols followed, for example, if the CEO, CFO, or clinical directors formally approved paying consultants extra to clear lists; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34331/25]

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

885. To ask the Minister for Health if she has ascertained the way in which CHI ensured that patients chosen for any NTPF-funded surgery or clinic were selected based on medical priority and waiting time; if there were instances where long-waiting children were bypassed in favour of others in NTPF sessions; if she is assured that CHI did not engage in any practice of resetting or manipulating waitlists for optics for example, removing and re-adding patients to make waits appear shorter, or cycling patients through initial consultations or diagnostics, funded by NTPF, only to place them back on the same surgical waiting list thereafter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34332/25]

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

886. To ask the Minister for Health if she has ensured that CHI utilized National Treatment Purchase Funds monies to reduce waiting times for the longest-waiting orthopaedic patients; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34333/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 882, 883, 884, 885 and 886 together.

Insourcing initiatives of the National Treatment Purchase Fun (NTPF), targeted at the longest waiting public patients, are arranged with the management of the public hospital concerned, in line with the relevant Waiting List Management Protocols, and on the basis of a strict Memorandum of Understanding. Under the insourcing agreement, the hospital confirms that the work is undertaken outside core hours and is additional activity aimed at reducing waiting lists.

Due to concerns raised over the 2022 Internal Examination, the NTPF placed a temporary pause on all insourcing work with CHI. It initiated a comprehensive review of all insourcing work with CHI to gather the necessary assurances regarding compliance, value for money and appropriate use of NTPF funding mechanisms. On the 11th of June, the NTPF confirmed that it was immediately recommencing insourcing work with CHI after a review of the assurances given by CHI in relation to its ongoing compliance with existing NTPF protocols and procedures.

The HSE CEO is commissioning an audit of governance and equity in patient access and waiting list management at CHI. The audit aims to assess governance and equity in access to care within CHI, especially regarding the balance between public and private patient management. The outcome of this audit is expected in the coming months.

As the Deputy’s question requires operational detail, I have asked the HSE to look into these matters and provide a direct reply as soon as possible.