Private hospital backs VHI in not extending cover

A CORK-BASED private hospital has backed VHI’s decision not to cover any new private hospitals in the city.

In ads published today, Shanakiel Hospital claims “loss-making, state-owned private health insurer” VHI Healthcare was being put under “political and other pressure” to underwrite a new private hospital.

It said if successful, this lobbying would “ultimately cost taxpayers dearly” because the insurer could not afford to underwrite new private developments.