Penalising hospitals over waiting lists is ‘simplistic’

Plans to financially penalise hospitals that do not cut waiting times have been branded “simplistic” because they do not take account of staff shortages.

Health Minister Leo Varadkar is set to reward hospitals that meet new targets with extra resources at the expense of other institutions that do not fare as well.

An extra €25m is being made available to boost better-performing hospitals under the initiative to cut waiting times for procedures below 15 months.