Report criticises HSE financial controls

The vast majority of the HSE’s finance staff have no accountancy qualifications, a report has found.

The finding will offer cold comfort to taxpayers at a time when the health service is beset by financial scandals.

The report, by PA consultants, found that just 16%, or about one in six of finance staff surveyed had accountancy qualifications. Out of 702 respondents, just 111 were fully-qualified accountants.