HSE unaware of more senior executive links to businesses

The HSE has said it is unaware of any other senior executive in the health service having business relationships with outside companies.

The comment came after an internal audit report published last week maintained that a former chief executive of the Saolta group of public hospitals in the west should have declared to senior HSE management a business relationship that he had with a UK company which secured contracts worth nearly €340,000.

The audit report said a potential conflict of interest existed in respect of a number of contracts signed by the Saolta group for the provision of services by the Northgate company.

The audit said the former Saolta chief executive Bill Maher confirmed he had a business involvement with Northgate as a consultant prior to his being seconded to work for the HSE in the west in January 2012. He said this arrangement continued up until March or April 2013.

Mr Maher told the auditors he was not conflicted as result of his arrangements with Northgate. He said he had informed his then board chairman of his relationship with the company and had recused himself from any subsequent procurement involving Northgate.

The HSE said Mr Maher was no longer in its employment. “We are not aware of any other similar issues at this time,” it said. Asked whether it believed it was appropriate, in general terms, for senior health service officials to have outside business interests with companies which sold products into the Irish market, the HSE said: “In general terms, if a senior manager is involved in a procurement process where there is a conflict of interest, the HSE considers this to be unacceptable.”