Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 March 2013
577. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he will identify, by name, hospitals in which management have implemented elements of the deal agreed between health service management and hospital consultants at the Labour Relations Commission in autumn 2012; the nature of the elements of the agreement that have been put in place in each acute hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12309/13]
View answer578. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he will identify, by name, the hospitals in which management has introduced the rostering of hospital consultants on any five out of seven days under the terms of the agreement reached at the Labour Relations Commission in September 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12310/13]
View answer579. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he will identify, by name, the hospitals in which management has put in place roster arrangements to have consultants on duty on a 24 hour basis in specialties such as emergency medicine, neonatology, intensive care and obstetrics as provided in the agreement on work practice reforms brokered at the Labour Relations Commission in September 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12311/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 577 to 579, inclusive, together.
In September 2012, following intensive engagement between health service management and the consultant representative bodies at the Labour Relations Commission, a comprehensive set of measures was agreed. The agreement encompasses a range of flexibilities to enhance productivity and efficiency and to maximise the availability of consultants, as key clinical decision-makers. In particular it provides for:
- Consultant availability for rostering for any five days out of seven as opposed to weekdays;
- Rostering of consultants on a 16/7 (8 a.m. to midnight) or 24/7 basis in services where this is required;
- Clinical Directors having a much strengthened management role in respect of consultants, with reporting relationship for all consultants to the Clinical Director;
- Consultant cooperation with a range of measures to support improved Community and Mental Health services;
- Consultant compliance with the contractual requirements regarding private practice;
- Expeditious processing and signing of claims by consultants for submission to private health insurers.
The HSE is responsible for ensuring that the measures agreed at the LRC are implemented in all hospitals in the public health service. In this regard I have asked the Executive to collate the data requested by the Deputy and to reply to him directly.
