KERRY GENERAL HOSPITAL is one of 39 hospitals across the county which has been fined by the HSE for its failure to cut waiting lists.

The hospital was fined a total of €12,366. Of that figure, €2,473, had already been levied because of patients needing treatment who have been waiting longer than maximum target of 18 months set by the Minister for Health, Leo Varadkar.

The fine is being imposed because of excess waits for outpatient appointments and inpatient or daycase treatment.

The 18-month maximum waiting time applies since the end of June. Mr Varadkar wants this further reduced to 15 months by the end of the year.

Only two hospitals in Ireland escaped a fine – Bantry General Hospital and St Colmcille’s Hospital, Dublin.

The most heavily penalised hospital is, Galway University Hospital, who received a fine of €1.17 million.

Cork University Hospital was fined €386,348, while University Hospital Limerick got a €17,326 penalty.