No HSE decision on hepatitis C support group’s funding

The HSE has yet to decide if it will provide funding this year for a hepatitis C support group after an internal audit found “significant extravagance” and “governance deficiencies” in its use of public funds.

The internal HSE audit of Transfusion Positive Ltd also identified “a significant failure” on the part of its two directors to maintain and retain adequate financial records. In fact, the group admitted to destroying financial records, saying it was “not aware” it had to maintain them.

Against this backdrop, the group spent more than 90% of the €1.5m in public funding it got between 2009-2014 on overseas trips; weekends away; dining; expenses of the executive committee members/ directors; complementary/beauty therapies; and legal costs. The audit of Transfusion Positive Ltd’s expenditure 2009-2014 shows almost €70,000 spent on trips to Boston, Berlin, Copenhagen, and Vienna to attend health conferences mainly designed for clinicians.