Cork University Hospital staff question PwC role after €608k paid to management consultants

Labour TD Seán Sherlock said in relation to the costs from October-December for which figures have been provided: 'It’s hard to square off where €600,000 has been spent when people are on trolleys every day'

A CUH spokesman defended the arrangement, saying it is 'common practice' for the HSE to work with management consultants through a national framework panel. File picture: Andy Gibson

Frontline staff at Cork University Hospital have questioned why PwC consultants have earned fees which could run to more than €1m at a time when services are stretched to breaking point.

The Irish Examiner understands the consultant team, believed to include 23 staff from PwC, has been paid more than €1m since October last year to work on a "transformation and improvement programme" for CUH and associated hospitals — Mallow, Bantry, St Finbarr’s Rehabilitation Unit, and CUH Wilton — known collectively as the CUH Group.