Hospitals fined for breaching 18-month waiting lists

University Hospital Galway has been fined more than €1.17 million for failing to meet targets set by Minister for Health Leo Varadkar for reducing waiting lists.

One-fifth of the penalty – €235,000 – has already been levied in respect of patients who are waiting longer than the Minister’s maximum target of 18 months at the end of August. The rest of the fine will be imposed in similar amounts over the remaining months of the year unless there is an improvement in waiting times.

All but two of the 41 hospitals in the State were penalised for their failure to cut waiting lists in accordance with the Minister’s target. The fine imposed on University Hospital Galway is the largest imposed by the HSE. It had the highest number of long waiting patients in the State, with almost 2,500 outpatients and over 500 inpatient/daycase patients on the waiting list for over 18 months at the end of the September.

The next highest fine of €865,000 was imposed on Beaumont Hospital in Dublin, with €173,00 of this amount actually levied in respect of the August waiting list figures.

Fines of more than €400,000 were imposed on Tallaght Hospital, University Hospital Waterford and the Mater Hospital in Dublin. Cork University Hospital and Sligo Regional Hospital were fined more than €300,000, while Letterkenny Regional Hospital and St James’s Hospital in Dublin were fined more than €200,000.

Two hospitals received fines of less than €1,000 – Louth County Hospital and Cavan General Hospital (€651 each).

Bantry General Hospital and St Colmcille’s Hospital in Loughlinstown received no fines at all.

The penalties are being imposed in respect of excess waits for outpatient appointments and inpatient or daycase treatment.

The HSE says the level of fines is anticipated to change as hospitals take action to cut waiting lists. “The hospitals are in a position to ensure no further fines are imposed if they meet their target at the end of the next monthly cycle. We are supporting them in providing access to the overall funding - they have outlined clearance plans and these include the provision to outsource treatment.”

The 18-month maximum waiting time applies since the end of June. Mr Varadkar wants this further reduced to 15 months by the end of the year.