Forensic auditors to review St Vincent’s Healthcare Group

The HSE is to commission external forensic auditors to review financial arrangements within the St Vincent's Healthcare Group.

It said its director general Tony O'Brien had taken the decision on foot of "specific allegations" it received concerning the broader group which operates the publicly funded St Vincent's and St Michael's hospitals in Dublin and the associated St Vincent's Private Hospital.

The concerns are understood to relate to documents in the Companies Registration Office which describe St Michael's Hospital as a charge or security in a mortgage dated December 23rd, 2014 between St Vincent's Healthcare Group and Bank of Ireland.

St Michael’s Hospital receives about €25 million in funding from the HSE annually and the larger St Vincent’s University Hospital receives some €200 million.

The St Vincent’s Healthcare Group said in a statement its board last November “finalised the legal formalities of converting a ‘floating’ charge into a ‘fixed’ charge in respect of various fixed assets of St Michael’s Hospital, following a review of security arrangements with Bank of Ireland”.

“This fixed charge has no operational, patient or financial impact on St Michael’s Hospital and regularises the security arrangements across the group.”

The HSE also said the auditors would “examine the public and private caseload mix and workplans of consultants in the group to ensure that they are within the agreed contractual ratios and in accordance with the contract type”.

The HSE said that “because of his concerns” Mr O’Brien had notified the office of the Comptroller and Auditor General.