Questions arise as to why private medical firms are using facilities at Sligo University Hospital for weekend procedures
PRIVATE companies are using public hospitals including Sligo University Hospital (SUH) for weekend procedures, a meeting of the Regional Health Forum West heard last week after Sligo councillor Declan Bree queried if this was indeed happening.
He was told that private firms do indeed have contracts to provide endoscopy services in SUH and other public hospitals in the region.
Shocked by the confirmation, Cllr Bree asked: “How in the name of goodness can a private company come in and use HSE hospitals and facilities, and use HSE staff to provide endoscopy services, and then charge the HSE a fortune for the services?”
The Independent Sligo councillor added: “Is it any wonder the health system is in such a shambles?”
He added: “This is a case where private companies use our HSE public hospitals, HSE facilities, HSE staff – medical, nursing, theatre operatives, porters, cleaners, administrative and so on, at weekends to provide endoscopy services – and the HSE then pays the private companies for the service?
“Not only pays – but pays well over €6 million to these private companies.
“What type of crazy system is this?
“It strikes me that only an organisation like the HSE could get involved in such a scheme.”
Cllr Bree asked: “Why is it that year after year we witness the growth of private medicine and medical corporations and the tendering out of health services, enriching private interests at the expense of the public good.
“Today private medical operators are constantly waiting in the wings to demand more from the public purse.
“The HSE is paying out astronomical sums for managers. Can some of those managers not put in place a system to provide endoscopy services in our hospitals at the weekend?
“The hospitals belong to the HSE, the facilities belong to the HSE, the staff are HSE staff.
“If the management of private companies can operate the service and make substantial profits, why is it that HSE management is incapable of providing the service at weekends?
Cllr Bree’s comments came after he received a reply to questions he had submitted regarding the provision of endoscopy procedures by private companies.
Responding to Cllr Bree’s questions, Ann Cosgrove, Chief Operations Officer of the HSE’s Saolta Hospital Group said: “All six Saolta Hospitals (including Sligo University Hospital) have contracts with private companies for the provision of endoscopy services (colonoscopy and gastroscopy), which were procured through a formal competitive procurement process.
“This is a clinical insourcing model where the procedures are performed in the hospital site at the weekends outside of core working arrangements. The costs incurred in 2023 was €5.7 million.”