Vol. 536 No. 5
114 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to claims made at the recent Irish Nurses Organisation conference that hospital consultants treating private patients were being allowed to use expensive equipment paid for by the taxpayer; if the consultants' contracts allow for the use of such equipment for private patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14807/01]
Successive Governments have consistently affirmed their commitment to the availability of a mix of public and private care within the Irish health system. Under the hospital consultants contract, consultants are entitled to engage in private practice within public hospitals. In relation to private practice in a public hospital, a consultant's overall proportion of private to public patients should reflect the ratio of public to private stay beds as designated under health legislation which requires that all public hospital beds be classified as public, private or non-designated. Hospital equipment is used to treat both public and private patients. Normally when private patients are treated in public hospitals, a fee is charged by the consultant or consultants for professional services and by the hospital for maintenance.
The mix of public and private health care is being addressed within the context of the new health strategy currently under development and due for completion by mid-year. A specific strategy sub-group is examining the issues concerned including the use of hospital facilities. This work is being carried out having regard to the identified need to increase bed capacity for public patients in the hospital system.
