NTPF 'should be audited' amid allegations of misuse of CHI funds

Labour Tipperary North TD Alan Kelly speaking to media outside Leinster House on Thursday when he said the NTPF should be subjected to an extensive audit. Picture: Cillian Sherlock/PA 

An audit of all public spending on the national treatment purchase fund (NTPF) is needed in light of allegations around misuse of funding at Children’s Health Ireland (CHI).

That is according to Tipperary North TD Alan Kelly, who said the existence of the NTPF — which funds public patients to have treatment in private facilities and extra treatment hours in public hospitals — indicates failures in the health services.

It comes as CHI said it is now seeking further legal advice on whether to publish a report containing allegations of misuse of NTPF funds and instances of missed or delayed care for children. Mr Kelly said: 

There needs to be a full audit going back many years in relation to how the NTPF has worked.

This should look at “where the money has gone, who has benefited, in what sectors, and over what duration of time", he added.

The CHI report has been referred to gardaí by the HSE, the Cabinet committee on health was told on Wednesday.

Despite calls for it to be published, including from the minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, CHI initially said it could not under legal advice.

However, a spokeswoman said on Thursday afternoon: “Further to the Minister's request to publish the internal examination report from 2021/2022, CHI is seeking further legal advice.” 

A department spokeswoman said the publication of this report is a matter for CHI.

The HSE is commissioning an audit which she said will look at "governance and equity in patient access and waiting list management at CHI".

This will also focus on "the balance between public and private patient management".

CHI hip surgery crisis

Meanwhile parents affected by a separate CHI crisis — around hip surgery for dysplasia — met again on Thursday evening with advocacy groups to seek advice.

The groups which represent children with spina bifida and scoliosis put out a statement trying to redirect discussion about all of the scandals back to children’s pain.

“The state has focused on the misappropriation of funds, but it has forgotten the misappropriation of children’s lives,” they warned.

The Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Paediatric Advocacy Group (SBHPAG) and Scoliosis Advocacy Network said the latest revelations are “utterly unacceptable” for every child affected.

They called on the health minister to publish a redacted version of that report, saying “this step is entirely possible and in the public interest".

It has been reported the children affected by this latest issue were referred to within the hospital as “medical orphans”.

The SBHPAG said this reference is “a truly horrific indictment of the times we live in”.

Care for children with spina bifida and scoliosis came under focus in 2023 when it emerged unapproved medical devices were used in three surgeries at Temple Street.

Spinal surgery care is already under a lengthy review by an external consultant.

The health minister has called an overall audit of how waiting lists are managed at CHI. Speaking to RTE she asked concerned parents to “just sit with me and sit with the NTPF for a number of days, for a week or 10 days to allow the NTPF to do their work".