Planned hospital sites may be soldto private sector

Some of the public hospital sites on which private co-located hospitals are to be built under Government plans could be sold rather than leased to the private sector, the Dáil Public Accounts Committee was told yesterday.

Secretary general of the Department of Health Michael Scanlan and the chief executive of the Health Service Executive (HSE), Prof Brendan Drumm, indicated to the committee that some of the lands involved could be sold off.

However, last night the executive and the Department of Health said this was incorrect and that the lands would not be sold to developers, but would be offered on a lease basis only.

Meanwhile, Mr Scanlan indicated that contracts for the planned new co-located hospitals could be signed by next month. He said the procurement process was working along a timeline under which contracts could expect to be completed by some time in April.

Opposition TDs on the committee strongly criticised any plan to sign contracts for the controversial new private facilities, which are to be developed on the sites of eight public hospitals, in advance of the general election.

An internal document on the co-located hospitals, drawn up by health service management on Wednesday for submission to the consultant contract talks, says the selection of successful bidders for the co-located hospital projects would be made on April 16th next. It says the HSE will have a major input into parties who may be brought on board as investors by the developers.

Under the health service management proposals, prior consent will be required before any investment is accepted from people involved in the drinks, gambling or tobacco industries.

Approval from health service management will also be required with regard to investment from a person convicted of a criminal offence relating to the conduct of their business or profession, or a person who has committed an act of grave misconduct in the course of business or profession, or who has failed to comply with tax or social security payments.