asked Minister for Health if he proposes implementing a 10 per cent cut in health services funding in 1989; the dates of meetings held this year of the Consultants' Common Contract Review Group; and if he will report on progress to date.
56.
Ceisteanna — Questions Oral Answers - Health Services Funding and Operation.
35.
asked the Minister for Health if he will make a statement on negotiations with the Irish Medical Organisation on the review of the common contract; and if he will make a further statement on the recent Southern Health Board report which indicates the very high level of private practice in the Southern Health Board hospitals.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 35 and 56 together. Discussions between my Department and the Department of Finance have only recently commenced in relation to the 1989 Estimate. It will be some time before these discussions and similar discussions with other Departments are concluded. At that point the Government will consider the allocation of resources for 1989.
Meetings to discuss the review of the common contract for consultant medical staff have been held this year on 15 January, 19 February, 25 March and 3 June 1988. As I have explained on previous occasions, because of the importance being attached to the talks it has been agreed that details of the proceedings would remain confidential.
Deputies will, however, be aware of the joint statement issued following my meeting with representatives of the Irish Medical Organisation on Friday, 3 June last. The statement read as follows:
At a meeting today between Dr. Rory O'Hanlon, T.D., Minister for Health and representatives of management and the Irish Medical Organisation, the progress of discussions on the common contract was considered. It was agreed that it is essential for the efficient operation of hospital services that agreement should be reached between individual consultants and hospital management as to the way in which consultants discharge their contractual commitment including activities such as out-patient clinics and theatre lists. It was decided that individual hospital managements and individual consultants would immediately proceed to agree this scheduling, including the scheduling of specific activities involving other hospital resources where this is not already in place. It was agreed that the review of the terms of the common contract would continue at future meetings, the first of which will be held shortly.
This agreement represents a considerable advance and is an indication of the serious commitment with which both management and the Irish Medical Organisation approached these negotiations.
The agenda for the negotiations on the review of the common contract is a wide ranging one and includes provision for discussing the appropriate mix of patients as between those being treated publicly and those receiving private treatment. The report on private practice in the Southern Health Board will be considered in that context. Given the confidential nature of the discussions I do not propose to comment further at this stage.
The report by the Southern Health Board on private practice in hospitals in that region is a public document. I should like to know if, since its publication, the Minister has taken any steps to control the level of private practice which has risen to 63 per cent by one consultant in St. Finbar's Hospital, Cork, to 52 per cent in the Orthopaedic Hospital while in the case of other consultants it has risen to 20 per cent and 30 per cent? At a time of scarce resources and cutbacks, surely the Minister has a responsibility to control such abuse in that region? In relation to the activities of some consultants, I should like to ask the Minister if there will be any element of indepth monitoring of the level of private practice in the new contract.
The appropriate mix of patients as between those receiving public and private treatment is a matter that will be discussed in the context of the common contract. The question raised by the Deputy in regard to the Southern Health Board will be part of that aspect of the negotiations of the common contract.
Does the Minister recall that when I raised this allegation in the House on 10 May he said it was unfounded. I referred to the report of the Southern Health Board and I was given an assurance by the Minister that the matter would be investigated. What investigation has taken place of this unprecedented high level of private practice in hospitals that are facing cutbacks in regard to equipment and staff? Has the Minister carried out any investigation of the matters highlighted in that alarming report?
As I said, this is part of the negotiations on the common contract. I should like to point out that the common contract was due for review in 1986 when the Deputy's party were in office but they did not even attempt to review it.
The Minister is washing his hands of the issue.
We are carrying out a review of the contract and we will be looking at the issues raised by the Deputy.
The Minister does not seem to be in control of what is happening in hospitals at present. Since we have some time left I should like to congratulate the two consultants in the Meath Hospital in Dublin who performed a national duty by pointing out what is going on in our hospitals.
The Deputy is deviating at question time. This is not in order.
Does the Minister agree that they should be congratulated for doing their public duty?
Deputy Allen, please resume your seat.
It is nice to hear the Deputy congratulating the consultants for a change.
The Deputy is deviating from the question under discussion.
They are national heroes in my view.
That disposes of ordinary and priority questions for today. We have five minutes before we take the Order of Business.
I propose that the sitting be suspended for five minutes.
It is proposed that the sitting be suspended for five minutes. Is that agreed? Agreed.
Sitting suspended at 3.40 p.m. and resumed at 3.45 p.m.