Hospital bosses accused of fraud cover-up

Health chiefs are set to investigate claims by a senator that there was “a cover-up” by management at St Vincent’s Hospital over the fraudulent charging of health insurers for cancer drugs.

The allegation came as St Vincent’s became embroiled in a separate scandal relating to top-up payments given to senior staff there.

Senator John Crown, an oncologist at the Dublin hospital, made sensational claims under privilege in the Seanad yesterday alleging a cover-up by hospital chiefs over fraudulently charging insurers.