HSE falls €300m short of private income target

THE HSE fell almost €300 million short of its private income target last year, giving rise to the possibility taxpayers may be forced to plug the financial gap.

A leaked document from the health service hierarchy confirmed hospitals brought in €381 million in fines, private bed costs and other extra payments from patients and insurance firms during 2010.

The figure is just 41% of the €642m level HSE chiefs had set for the period.