New Report Reveals How Naas Hospital Broke Rules On Waiting-List Funding

Thursday, 28 August 2025 12:16

By Martin Osborne

On disclosure, Naas hospital suspended all NTPF insourcing initiatives.

A new report has revealed that three hospitals - Naas General, St Michael’s in Dún Laoghaire, and University Hospital Kerry - used all of the money they received from the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) to pay consultants, instead of also covering nursing and administrative costs as required.

The NTPF, which gets over €200 million a year from the State, funds extra clinics in public and private hospitals to cut waiting lists.

The Fund helps pay for public patients to be treated in private hospitals.

It also assists with paying public hospitals to deliver extra care outside of normal HSE-funded activity, usually in evenings or weekends, to add capacity beyond their “core” service.

The idea is that NTPF funding should cover the marginal costs of running these extra clinics — including consultants, nurses, and admin staff - so that a hospital can deliver more care without displacing regular HSE work.

But the report says these three hospitals broke the rules set out in their agreements with the agency.

At Naas, the review found waiting-list schemes were even run during normal working hours, not outside core activity as required.

According to the report, seen by Kfm, Naas Hospital did not provide assurances that activities are being carried out "strictly outside of core activity and are not displacing or overlapping with services already funded under the HSE National Service Plan".

On disclosure, Naas hospital suspended all NTPF insourcing initiatives.

"The Board and Executive of the NTPF take their oversight and fiduciary responsibilities to the publictaxpayer very seriously. We will take whatever actions are necessary to ensure our spend is fully protected for the benefit of public patients," the report stated.

Internal auditors are now investigating.

Kfm has contacted the HSE for comment.

More from Local News

Department Of Housing Shifts Blame On To Council As Kildare Families Priced Out Of "Affordable" Housing Again

In a statement to Kfm News, the Department said the Barracksfield West development is part of the Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme, and that the minimum prices, about 24% below market value, were decided by the Council.
Outbreak Of Bird Flu Has Been Confirmed In Carlow Turkey Flock

All flock owners have been urged to be vigilant for signs of bird flu and to maintain biosecurity measures
Lidl To Open Country’s First Net Zero Energy Store In Maynooth This Thursday

Designed in partnership with the Irish Green Building Council, the supermarket will generate as much energy as it consumes annually.
Contract For Maynooth Eastern Ring Road Project Awarded To Company Based In Kilcullen

The new single carriageway relief road will connect the R405 Celbridge Road in the south to the R148 Leixlip Road in the north.
Policy Shift Allows Private Sector To Construct Wastewater Plants For New Housing

Up until now, only Uisce Eireann has been allowed do this.
End Of An Era At Berney Bros Saddlery In Kilcullen As Master Craftsman Retires After 51 Years

Audio

During his half-century with the company, Clifford worked on saddles for many of the leading names in Irish racing, particularly through the 1970s.
Parents Invited To Take Part In Major Survey On Primary Education’s Future

Audio

95 per cent of the country’s almost 3,100 primary schools fall under the patronage of religious bodies, according to figures from Education & Training Boards Ireland.
€102,600 Granted For Repairs To The Ballymore Eustace Liffey Linear Golden Falls Loop Walk

The funding is part of a €16.5 million national allocation supporting 63 projects across Ireland, including walking trails, mountain access routes, and outdoor water-based amenities.