Concern over HSE audit findings

Concerns about the financial sustainability of Cheshire Ireland, breaches of public pay policy at St John of God, and a 1,000% increase in overtime payments to mental health nurses are among the damning findings of a series of HSE internal audits, published yesterday.

At Cheshire Ireland, which has 20 centres spread across 10 counties providing support services for people with physical and neurological conditions, a plan agreed with the HSE to achieve long-term financial sustainability has not been implemented.

The auditor said this failure “could result in Cheshire Ireland not being a going concern”. The plan was entered into after Cheshire Ireland approached the HSE in 2013 to discuss its deteriorating financial position.