HSE nepotism - Abuses must be confronted

LAST week we carried extensive interviews with Health Minister Mary Harney and HSE boss Prof Brendan Drumm.

Both expressed deep frustration at the difficulties involved in reforming an organisation where staff interests come before patients’ needs or any notion of value for money for taxpayers.

It is dispiriting that two such powerful people seem defeated by the culture of the organisation. The weekend revelations about nepotism – where managers’ children got jobs that were not advertised – in Cork, and further reports today from Limerick, suggest that abuse of position may be widespread in the HSE.

It is tragic that so much energy and time will have to be wasted confronting this low-level corruption when there are so many other pressing issues for the HSE. However, confronted they must be. Taxpayers and the vast majority of HSE staff deserve as much.