HSE takes over running of hepatitis C support group

The HSE has taken over the running of the support organisation for people with hepatitis C, Positive Action, due to "serious concerns" over its governance and its management of public money. Separately, a Garda investigation is under way into aspects of the organisation.

Following a meeting with the organisation’s chairwoman Antoinette Fitzgerald last Thursday, the HSE sent a letter to her outlining the appointment of a HSE administrator to “oversee all of the operations of Positive Action which incur any expenditure”.

The interim arrangement will remain pending an internal audit report in the next four to six weeks.

The HSE letter states the administrator will have “unconditional, unrestricted access to all aspects of the organisation’s operations . . . in the context of serious concerns that the HSE has in regard to Positive Action’s governance, its management of public monies and to ensure that appropriate services are provided to [the group’s] members”.

It goes on to say that “these concerns are based on the information which has been made available to the HSE in relation to previous expenditure, the recently conducted internal audit and the notification to the HSE by you of a Garda investigation into matters pertaining to Positive Action”.

In a subsequent letter to members dated January 31st, Ms Fitzgerald confirmed the immediate appointment of a HSE administrator.

It states the HSE had “taken over responsibility for overseeing all activities undertaken by Positive Action which incur expenditure and will ensure that this public funding is expended appropriately”.

She said ahead of the completion of the internal audit report: “The HSE has informed us that they will not be in a position to confirm or commit any further funding to Positive Action until such a time [as] it has confidence in the governance of our organisation.”

Based in Fitzwilliam Square, Dublin, Positive Action is a support group run by a voluntary executive committee for women infected with hepatitis C through the contaminated blood product anti-D, and their families.

Between 2006 and 2011 Positive Action received an average of €600,000 a year from the HSE, or over 98 per cent of its annual income. However, funding was reduced to €288,000 in 2011.

About 1,000 women in Ireland were infected with hepatitis C from contaminated anti-D immunoglobulin produced by the Irish Blood Transfusion Service Board between 1977 and 1991.

The State established a compensation scheme for people infected with hepatitis C from contaminated blood products. The tribunal has so far made payments to about 3,000 claimants, including non-infected next of kin, at a cost of more than €1 billion.

In a statement last night, Positive Action said it was “continuing to work in the interest of its members, women who have received State infected hepatitis C through contaminated anti-D. This work is continuing despite the funding issues the organisation has experienced in recent months.

“As an interim measure, the HSE has appointed an interim administrator to oversee activities within Positive Action that will incur expenditure.”