Private sector under scrutiny as HSE warns against poaching public patients

The HSE is cracking down on consultants who persuade public patients to go private—a move now flagged as potentially criminal. Triggered by revelations that a CHI consultant allegedly shifted children from public waiting lists to private care, profiting through the National Treatment Purchase Fund, HSE CEO Bernard Gloster has threatened to involve gardaí in future incidents.

This scandal has sparked political outrage and calls for sweeping governance reforms at Children’s Health Ireland. The yet-unpublished internal CHI report is now a flashpoint, with demands for immediate transparency and stricter oversight from the Department of Health. For private healthcare providers, the message is clear: ethical boundaries are under a microscope, and practices that blur public-private lines may trigger reputational and legal consequences.

In an industry already facing trust and capacity pressures, this is a wake-up call for all providers to review referral channels, consultant arrangements, and compliance safeguards. The private sector must be above reproach—not just operationally, but ethically.

Read the full article for key implications on governance, trust, and risk exposure in private healthcare.