Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 24 Mar 1998

Vol. 488 No. 7

Written Answers. - Hospital Consultants.

Alan Shatter

Question:

212 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children whether it is the intention of his Department to require any health board to insist on a new agreement for consultants in relation to scheduling, rostering, rest days and other matters as a precondition to signing the new revised contracts for medical consultants; whether he advised the Irish Medical Organisation that no such agreement would be required as a precondition; the communication, if any, that has taken place between him and each health board in this regard; and the concerns, if any, expressed to him regarding the approach of the Western Health Board. [6932/98]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen)

Health boards and hospitals have been directed to offer the new hospital consultants' contract, where appropriate, with effect from 1 January 1998. The contract offers major benefits to consultants, including, in many cases, pay increases of up to 22 per cent. Because of the particular type of agreement, each consultant concerned is required to sign an individual contract with the employing authority. Accordingly, neither party should sign the contract unless satisfied that the terms are capable of being implemented.

Where concerns arise in relation to scheduling, rostering or rest days they should be resolved between the consultant and the employing authority. I would hope that the approach adopted by health boards, hospitals and consultants in relation to signing the contract should be constructive with a view to ultimate patient benefit. I understand that the position is no different in the Western Health Board.