Negligence cases cost HSE €81m last year

Negligence claims cost the HSE a massive €81m in taxpayers’ money last year — with €32m going on legal fees for those defending the state organisation.

Figures obtained by Fine Gael Cork South Central TD and Oireachtas health committee chair Jerry Buttimer show the massive costs were accrued despite attempts to curb the financial expense in recent years.

According to the State Claims Agency statistics, last year’s €81m cost was up marginally on the €79m figure in 2010, and almost double the 2009 cost of €47.5m.