Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 22 Apr 1999

Vol. 503 No. 5

Written Answers. - Consultant Appointments.

Batt O'Keeffe

Question:

57 Mr. B. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Health and Children the amount paid by each health board in respect of insurance cover for consultant and non-consultant doctors within their remit; and if the common contract for consultants' insurance cover is paid by each health board to cover consultants' private work. [6772/99]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen)

The amount paid by each health board in respect of insurance cover for consultants and non-consultant hospital doctors for 1998 is set out in the following table.

Agency	1998
	Consultant	Non-Consultant
	£	£
Eastern Health Board	1,022,116	418,950
Midland Health Board	830,423	187,850
Mid-Western Health Board	1,002,570	274,213
North-Eastern Health Board	1,182,704	256,800
North-Western Health Board	1,001,253	277,714
South-Eastern Health Board	1,524,000	314,000
Southern Health Board	1,841,527	448,097
Western Health Board	1,305,663	490,540
Totals	9,710,256	2,668,164

Consultants employed in the public hospital system are reimbursed a fixed proportion of the cost of their medical indemnity subscriptions. Category one consultants, who do not treat in-patients in private hospitals, are reimbursed 90 per cent of the cost. Category two consultants, who can treat patients in private hospitals, are reimbursed 80 per cent of the cost. The percentage of the annual subscription which is not reimbursed is in respect of private work and non-indemnity services offered by the medical defence organisations.