PAC-ing a punch on HSE spending
Medical Independent column from 5 November 2015
Last month, HSE Director General Mr Tony O’Brien made his last appearance before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) as the person with ultimate accountability for the health budget. This is because responsibility for the health budget was transferred from the HSE back to the Department of Health on 1 January 2015. (more…)
Why being €300m over budget out of a total of €13bn may actually be a success
Analysis from the Irish Independent from 13 June 2014 on a hot-headed John McGuinness, Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) call for the resignation of the HSE director general, Tony O’Brien and Secretary General of the Department of Health, Ambrose McLoughlin, on the basis that they are not fit for purpose. (more…)
Consultant contract showdown
See below for Medical Independent column from 17 April 2014 on the ongoing dispute between St Vincent’s Hospital and the HSE over consultants’ work (more…)
Small victories in transparency
The work of the Public Accounts Committee may finally lead to some proper oversight of how our health system operates. Here is my column from Medical Independent from 6 February 2014. (more…)
HSE and Dept of Health are ultimately responsible for unaccounted €2.35 million
So what has happened €2.35 million of public money that was channelled through the HSE to the siptu union. HSE chief Brendan Drumm says he has no idea, Siptu say they have never got that money. So what was this fund for, how was it spent and why on earth did no state agency take responsibility for the annual €250,000 fund over eight years? You can read what I think below or hear it here. (more…)
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