The HSE has directed its internal audit unit to review the circumstances of how a private company won a contract to install critical quality and safety patient software in State hospitals in the west and northwest, following an inquiry from The Irish Times.
The Irish Times submitted detailed questions to the HSE and the hospitals group, Saolta University Health Care Group, on Friday regarding the contract for this software, used to manage the treatment of thousands of patients in University Hospital Galway, Mayo General Hospital, Sligo Regional Hospital, Roscommon Hospital and Letterkenny General Hospital.
The questions focused on how only one company, Northgate Public Services, had been asked to bid for this contract and whether Saolta's then chief executive Bill Maher had disclosed if he previously worked as a consultant for Northgate.
The HSE said: “The director general has directed HSE internal audit to commence an immediate review of all of the relevant facts into the matters that you raise. Until such time as this audit is complete, it is not appropriate that the HSE comments further”.
A spokesman for Saolta said: “We can confirm that Northgate Public Services was awarded a contract for the installation of a clinical information management system”.
Required information
He added: “At the time of the procurement of the clinical information management system, there was no other system solution available that would provide the required information to the group .
“The group’s procurement of services from Northgate is now the subject of a HSE internal audit review. The group will be co-operating fully with the HSE Internal Audit review and will implement any recommendations arising. While this review is taking place, the group will not be in a position to say anything further about the procurement of services from Northgate.” He declined to comment on Mr Maher or the value of the Northgate contract and said Mr Maher did not wish to comment.
Northgate said: “Northgate is unable to disclose details of individual contract arrangements, without the consent of the customer concerned.” It declined to comment on the size of the contract or on whether and when Mr Maher had acted as a business consultant to it.
In October, the HSE announced Mr Maher was leaving the group in the west and northwest. He is taking up the role of chief executive of the Dublin North East Hospital Group.