Hospitals fined €7.5m for poor service

BADLY managed hospitals where patients’ health is not improved by high treatment costs have been fined €7.5 million.

Under the performance-related casemix assessment of 37 hospitals, James Connolly Memorial in Blanchardstown and St Columcille’s in Loughlinstown had their budgets cut by €1.4m and €1.05m, respectively, for inefficiencies.

Letterkenny General Hospital was top of the winners table, receiving €1.12m for improved performance, despite ongoing problems with A&E. A fortnight ago, the hospital cancelled scheduled surgery because of overcrowding in the emergency ward and 28 patients on trolleys.